Get real! Why Reinhold Niebuhr’s “Christian Realism” Still Matters for Politics and for Life

This presentation by Dr. William Stacy Johnson is entitled Get real! Why Reinhold Niebuhr’s “Christian Realism” Still Matters for Politics and for Life. Reinhold Niebuhr has been described as the most influential American theologian of the 20th century. His work on Christian realism emphasized the imperfection of human beings, and the innately corrupt tendencies of human societies that are obstacles to the Kingdom of God being realized on earth. Niebuhr’s thinking has had a profound impact on not only theologians, but also political scientists. He played a prominent role in 20th century public affairs, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964. Dr. Johnson is the Arthur M. Adams Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary.