Moral Man & Immoral Society
User Rating: / 0

Book Review

Moral Man & Immoral Society - A Study in Ethics and Politics

By Reinhold Niebuhr

Westminster John Knox Press , Louisville, Kentucky ; 284 pages, $16

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892 - 1971) was an ethicist, theologian, and political philosopher who taught at Union Theological Seminary from 1928 to 1960.

Even though these essays were written in 1932, they are still as relevant as if they were written in the last year.

These essays were written observing the effects of political societies on individuals. I will paraphrase some of the important statements showing how religion has the same effect on the morality of individuals. My substitutions will be in (parentheses).

Page 88

Since there can be no ethical action without self-criticism, and no self-criticism without the rational capacity of self-transcendence, it is natural that national (church) attitudes can hardly approximate the ethical. Even those tendencies toward self-criticism in a nation (church) which do express themselves are usually thwarted by the governing classes and by a certain instinct for unity in the society itself. For self-criticism is a kind of inner disunity, which the feeble mind of a nation (church) finds difficulty in distinguishing from dangerous forms of inner conflict. So nations (churches) crucify their moral rebels with their criminals upon the same Golgotha, not being able to distinguish between the moral idealism which surpasses, and the anti-social conduct which falls below the moral mediocrity, on a level of which every society unifies its life. While critical loyalty toward a community is not impossible, it is not easily achieved. It is therefore probably inevitable that every society should regard criticism as a proof of a want of loyalty.

When governing groups are deprived of their special economic privileges, their interests will be more nearly in harmony with the interest of the total national (religious) society.

Page 91

There is an ethical paradox in patriotism(faith) which defies every but the most astute and sophisticated analysis. The paradox is that patriotism(faith) transmutes individual unselfishness into national(religious) egoism. Loyalty to the nation(church) is a high form of altruism when compared with lesser loyalties and more parochial interests. It therefore becomes the vehicle of all the altruistic impulses and expresses itself, on occasion, with such fervor that the critical attitude of the individual toward the nation(church) and its enterprises is almost completely destroyed. The unqualified character of this devotion is the very basis of the nation’s(church’s) power and the freedom to use the power without moral restraint.

Absolutism in religion permits absurdities. Only doubt opens the mind to learning.

(If you are inflicted with the “I Know” ego, read this book at your own risk.)

Read more...
 
The Gall
User Rating: / 0

Our president had the gall to stand up before a group of people yesterday, while in Seoul, South Korea, and state that “China must end detentions and guarantee freedoms.”

In the mind of most sane people there is a problem here. When the Bush Administration is involved in such nefarious acts as illegal rendition, crimes against the Geneva Convention and suspension of habeas corpus , he surely does not have the right to question the policies of another failed state.

What makes this so scary is that he doesn’t recognize the ambiguity of his statements. America has in the past been that light upon a hill that radiated the freedoms and rights of all people world wide. The Bush Administration has doused that flame and has no right to claim heritage.

Read more...
 
Suggested Reading
User Rating: / 0

Making It - How Chicago shaped Obama in the July 21, 2008 The New Yorker is a biographical look at the political history of Barack Obama.

I think this is a very fair examination of his political history. It is not a white-wash, no pun intended. This man has made a long term commitment to political ascension and appears to have the inside track to the presidency.

I also think he has the ability to become a good president and maybe even a great one. I think he deserves the opportunity to lead this nation.

He will not have to work hard to surpass the current Bush Administration. Bush has caused many to wonder if Democracy can withstand idiocy.

Read more...
 
« StartPrev12345678910NextEnd »

Page 1 of 33
 

Polls

New website or the old one?
 

Who's Online

We have 2 guests online

Latest Comments

The Gall (1 comments) Thursday, 07 August 2008
Suggested Reading (2 comments) Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Deep Economy (1 comments) Monday, 23 June 2008
Doing The Wrong Thing For The Right Reason (1 comments) Monday, 02 June 2008
Statistical Morality (2 comments) Monday, 26 May 2008
What Does It Mean To Be Moral? (6 comments) Sunday, 04 May 2008
A Man-Made Cancer (9 comments) Friday, 28 March 2008
Is This A Peaceful Religion? (4 comments) Wednesday, 19 March 2008