Realistic Hope and Hopeful Realism

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I read Niebuhr, after I discovered he'd been a close friend of Abraham Joshua Heschel. I was duly impressed by Niebuhr, unsurprising given the company he kept.

Now, what I'd like to know, Mr. Marty, are your views on Heschel. Also, has Pres. Elect Obama read him?

About Niebuhr, Wikipedia states in part, "During the 1930s, Niebuhr was a prominent leader of the militant faction of the Socialist Party of America. He promoted adoption of the United front agenda of the Communist Party USA, a position in sharp contrast to ideas later in his career... Niebuhr’s work was a great voice within the rising tide of welfare capitalism."
Today, it's well-recognized by some that FDR's New Deal programs PROLONGED the Depression. Instead of hope, the news that Obama reads Niebuhr (Marxist in his youth and welfare capitalist in his mature years) should be another red flag (pun intended) to all thinking Americans.
We do not know who Obama really is, and he wanted it that way. Change is not always good. If you disagree, ask the 100,000,000+ who died at the hands of the totalitarians Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Mao, Kim, and Ho who brought "change" to their spheres of influence in the 20th century.

Realism gives me hope. Realism is the light that guides us to the end of the tunnel. Realism is to seek truth and not fear what you see, but rather thoughtfully respond. Realism allows us to make the tough choices that move us forward, giving hope true meaning.

Realism gives me hope. Realism is the light that guides us to the end of the tunnel. Realism is to seek truth and not fear what you see, but rather thoughtfully respond. Realism allows us to make the tough choices that move us forward, giving hope true meaning.

I have read quotes from many founders of this nation that encouraged voters to examine the private life of the candidates in order to truly understand their character.
With that said, I feel the examination of Obama's relationship with Jeremiah Wright is instructive. Realistically, can we Hope that someone here in DC will help Obama find a kinder and more tolerant church? One that preaches the Savior's words of loving your enemies and doing good to those that despitefully use you?
This is a 'Change We Need' in order to find him more believable, but is it a 'Change We Can Count on'?

This just reminded me about how it was thought that religion should be a private thing.

All the hype about the Rev. Wright and the church Obama attended for 20 years seemed to over shadow this base concept. But sitting in a pew at church
a mans private thoughts remain his and his actions outside the church is the only point of view one should use to judge him.

You have provided an insight that was sorely needed, it is with regret that David Brooks fell short in this area.

As a former classmate of Rev. Marty at the U of C Divinity School in '57, I was pleased to read his comments on Barack's knowledge of Reinhold Niebuhr. The University's alumni magazine had a similiar story in a recent issue. Following the Apostle Paul(and Augustine in De Trinitate), for a politician to move the world to the future of our collective human consciousness, to move all humanity into a rich trust in hope involves an amazing invigorating stimulus that all our minds need to act on. Why? Because in recent years many humans of all persuasions have been teatering close to a life of hopelessness,a kind of resignation to near cynicism about both planet earth the world of nations. We have been watching ecosystems, economic, social and governmental systems floundering under the rush to self-interest and greed. But hope, like trust and love of others,can move us away from selfishness. This grand theme of President Elect Obama now awaits our collective fulfillment. But, as he tells us, we must all do our part. We must be willing to assist by our individual efforts of support and action. It's another of Niebuhr's "impossible possibilities". So let's give it a try.