Radical Monotheism and Western Culture: With Supplementary Essays (Library of Theological Ethics) [Paperback]

H. Richard Niebuhr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1993 | Series: Library of Theological Ethics

This reissue of a classic work of H. Richard Niebuhr, one of the most influential and creative theological ethicists of the twentieth century, highlights his mature thinking. By using path-breaking interpretations of faith as a basic dimension of human life and culture as an arena of faith in conflict, Niebuhr encourages further thought. This volume should be required reading for anyone interested in recent perspectives on theology and ethics.

The Library of Theological Ethics series focuses on what it means to think theologically and ethically. It presents a selection of important and otherwise unavailable texts in easily accessible form. Volumes in this series will enable sustained dialogue with predecessors though reflection on classic works in the field.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

H. Richard Niebuhr (1894-1962) was a prominent twentieth-century American theologian. He was Sterling Professor of Theology and Christian Ethics at Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut. He is known for his books The Responsible Self and Radical Monotheism and Western Culture.

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (August 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664253261
• ISBN-13: 978-0664253264
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #914,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, October 18, 2002

By 

Hoodlum (Frederick, MD USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Radical Monotheism and Western Culture: With Supplementary Essays (Library of Theological Ethics) (Paperback)

This book should never have been allowed to go out of print; I am glad to see it available. The author was one of the great Christian ethicists in American history. His book, a collection of essays with overlapping themes, is still valuable. You will think about God and all the little gods we worship differently as a result of reading and thinking about this book. Also, Niebuhr has a unique, very fine writing style.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why no longer available online?, October 15, 2007

By 

Alan J. Richard - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Radical Monotheism and Western Culture: With Supplementary Essays (Library of Theological Ethics) (Paperback)

I agree with the reviewer who said this book should never have been allowed to go out of print. It speaks to an issue - what we mean when we say "God" or address "God" - that has been too long ignored by the progressive side of Protestant Christianity, a mistake that as made progressive Christianity less and less persuasive to the sons and daughters of progressive Christians.

I am also glad to see it back in print, but I have a caveat. Until recently, this book has been available free of charge to online readers at religion-online, a university-supported website with a wealth of materials reflecting the best of mid 20th century progressive theology. I had been using it in class and discovered only very recently that it has been "pulled" from availability online - coincidentally, at a time when it is finally being re-released in print. This seems odd for a book last copyrighted - according to the copyright announcement in the new edition - in 1960!! Unless large media companies have staged yet another retroactive-copyright coup in the last year, this book should have become public domain in 1988, absent any copyright renewal.

For me, this is a minor inconvenience. Although I will not have a hard copy in hand in time for my class on Thursday, having been previously content with the online book, I will purchase a copy. Before I decide whether to purchase that copy new or used, however, I'd like to know more about the relationship betwen the new print edition and the withdrawal of the online edition.

I would also like to point out that the re-enclosure of this now quite old text by copyright (or perhaps some other legal ploy) will considerably reduce the number of readers who will be exposed to it, which is a pity. Relatively few young internet-junkies probably read the whole thing online, but more of them would have read enough of it to become interested in Niebuhr online than will read it in print.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, April 30, 2007

By 

Stuart G. Brantley "Stu-B-Doo" (Springfield, MO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Radical Monotheism and Western Culture: With Supplementary Essays (Library of Theological Ethics) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book and resource for any theological library. H. Richard Niebuhr is a great theologian and helps to clarify certain points of theological doctrines.