Reinhold Niebuhr (1892?1971) ? whom President Barack Obama famously named as his ?favorite philosopher? in a 2007 interview ? was arguably the most influential American theologian of the twentieth cen
Reinhold Niebuhr (1892?1971) ? whom President Barack Obama famously named as his ?favorite philosopher? in a 2007 interview ? was arguably the most influential American theologian of the twentieth century. Gabriel Fackre?s Promise of Reinhold Niebuhr has long provided a compact introduction to Niehbuhr?s life and thought.
With Niebuhr?s enduring legacy again rising to prominence in political and religious circles, Fackre has reworked his standard account of this iconic ?visionary realist? for a new generation. In this revised and updated third edition, Fackre crystallizes key themes in Niebuhr?s writings, addresses and debunks ?Tall Tales? that have sprung up around Niebuhr?s legacy, and applies Niebuhr?s thinking to twenty-first-century theological and cultural issues.
Max L. Stackhouse
— Princeton Theological Seminary
"This brilliant and readable expansion of Fackre's notable 1970 treatment of the life, work, and impact of Reinhold Niebuhr offers a compelling argument as to why 'the father of Christian realism' is heralded as one of the best American theologians ever and why his insights on the human condition continue to be so pertinent to our contemporary situation. I commend this book with enthusiasm!"
Sharing the Practice
"As a pastor, I appreciated Fackre's account of Niebuhr's life that included intersections of parish ministry with politics. . . . Reading this book leads me to want to read more of this genuinely American 'visionary realist.'"
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