Reinhold Niebuhr (Makers of the Modern Theological Mind)

Reinhold Niebuhr (18921971), arguably the most influential American theologian since Jonathan Edwards, was the one American who found a comfortable place in a modern Pantheon comprised mainly of Europeans. His doctrine of sin as pride has become a modern classic, and he helped many to see how anxiety is the matrix for both inordinate self-assertion and sensuality. Not only a brilliant and articulate thinker, Niebuhr was also a deeply compassionate, sensitive human being and an ardent champion of social justice. He remains a model for us today as he teaches us how to communicate the gospel in a secular age. The Makers of the Modern Theological Mind series remains a must read for anyone eager to understand these theologians and their impact on todays church.