Father of neoconservatives: nowadays, the truest disciples of the liberal theologian Reinhold Niebuhr are conservatives. - Michael Novak, National Review; 5/11/1992.

"This is the one-hundredth year (centesimus annus) since the birth of Reinhold Niebuhr. There is no one on the Christian Left who fills his shoes today. Indeed, a significant number of Christians who have become disillusioned with the Left (as Niebuhr was with "liberals" in his time) call him their father. Others may regard them as illegitimate children (may perhaps state their view even more pungently). The fact is, neoconservatives cite Niebuhr at least as often as those on the Left do."

Forgetting Reinhold Niebuhr...and Ignoring Him, Too

"There was a time when I was highly critical of Niebuhr. Now I think he was more than wise, and it is the Niebuhrians like Schlesinger who bother me. Schlesinger is right, however, to lament the passing of Niebuhr's influence -- a passing of which he himself unintentionally provides such a good example."

Every student should read Reinhold Niebuhr.

The American Association of Christian Counselors reprints an essay by Reinhold Niebuhr (1941), "Christian Faith and the World Crisis."