Reinhold Niebuhr and Contemporary Politics : God and Power

When Barack Obama praised the writings of philosopher theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the run up to the 2008 US Presidential Elections, he joined a long line of top politicians who closely engaged with Niebuhr's ideas, including Tony Benn, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King Jr. and Dennis Healey. Beginning with his early ministry amongst industrial workers in early twentieth century Detroit, Niebuhr displayed a passionate commitment to social justice that infused his life's work. Rigorously championing 'Christian Realism' he sought a practically orientated intellectual engagement with the political challenges of his day. His ideas on International Relations have also helped to shape debate amongst leading academic thinkers and policy makers. In both Christian and secular contexts he continues to attract new readers today. In this timely re-evaluation both critics and disciples of Niebuhr's work reflect on his notable contribution to Christian social ethics, the Christian doctrine of humanity, and the engagement of Christian thought with contemporary politics. The authors bring a wide range of expertise from both sides of the Atlantic, indicating how a re-evaluation of Niebuhr's thought can help inform contemporary debates on Christian social ethics and other wider theological issues. Contents......Page 8 Notes on Contributors......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 1. Reinhold Niebuhr in Historical Perspective......Page 19 2. On Recent Political Uses of Reinhold Niebuhr: Toward a New Appreciation of his Legacy......Page 31 3. Niebuhr’s ‘Nature of Man’ and Christian Realism......Page 55 4. Radical Orthodoxy’s Critique of Niebuhr......Page 71 5. The Nature and Destiny of Serious Theology......Page 84 6. Reinhold Niebuhr’s ‘Outsider Ecclesiology’......Page 100 7. Niebuhr, Liturgy, and Public Theology......Page 115 8. Falling Far Short: Taking Sin Seriously......Page 129 9. Distinguishing Hope from Utopian Aspiration: Revisiting Reinhold Niebuhr......Page 142 10. Reinhold Niebuhr and the Political Possibility of Forgiveness......Page 154 11. What Makes Us Think That God Wants Democracy?......Page 167 12. Realism and Progress: Niebuhr’s Thought and Contemporary Challenges......Page 182 13. Reinhold Niebuhr and the Use of Force......Page 196 14. The Irony of American Evangelical Politics......Page 215 15. Reinhold Niebuhr and the Problem of Religious Pluralism......Page 231 Conclusion: Realism Revisited......Page 247 Select Bibliography......Page 262 B......Page 266 E......Page 267 I......Page 268 M......Page 269 N......Page 270 S......Page 271 V......Page 272 Z......Page 273 Introduction / -- Richard Harris Reinhold Niebuhr in historical perspective -- Robin W. Lovin On recent political uses of Reinhold Niebuhr : toward a new appreciation of his legacy -- Mac McCorkle Niebuhr's 'nature of man' and Christian realism -- Jean Bethke Elshtain Radical orthodoxy's critique of Niebuhr -- Ben Quash The nature and destiny of serious theology -- Samuel Wells Reinhold Niebuhr's 'outsider ecclesiology' -- Wendy Dackson Niebuhr, liturgy, and public theology -- Stephen Platten Falling far short : taking sin seriously -- Martyn Percy Distinguishing hope from Utopian aspiration : revisiting Reinhold Niebuhr -- Ian Markham Reinhold Niebuhr and the political possibility of forgiveness -- Nigel Biggar What makes us think that God wants democracy? -- Richard Harries Realism and progress : Niebuhr's thought and contemporary challenges -- Anatol Lieven Reinhold Niebuhr and the use of force -- John D. Carlson The irony of American evangelical politics -- Kevin Carnahan Reinhold Niebuhr and the problem of religious pluralism -- Wilfred M. McClay -- Conclusion : Realism revisited -- Stephen Platten. When Barack Obama praised the writings of Reinhold Niebuhr in the run up to his election, he joined a long line of politicians who engaged with Niebuhr's ideas. This book discusses how a re-evaluation of Niebuhr's thought can help inform contemporary debates on Christian social ethics and other wider theological issues A timely, collaborative re-evaluation of Reinhold Niebuhr's work that reflects on his notable contribution to Christian social ethics, the Christian doctrine of humanity and the engagement of Christian thought with contemporary politics.