tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931579729864611467.post611362189385996521..comments2023-10-31T05:37:16.659-07:00Comments on A Guy in the Pew: Faith and Politics: Lessons from Reinhold NiebuhrChuck Blanchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01417638725063186710noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931579729864611467.post-40954564131474555262007-04-28T14:26:00.000-07:002007-04-28T14:26:00.000-07:00janinsanfran:Perhaps you and I read Niebuhr differ...janinsanfran:<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you and I read Niebuhr differently. I think he would agree with your vision--strive for perfection with the terible knowledge that we are doomed to fail because of human imperfection.<BR/><BR/>In my view, hard core realism (untempered by idealism) leads to inaction. Hard core idealism (without some realism) leads to ineffectivness. I think Niehbuhr's formula (as well framed by you) comes closest to the right balance. I think of Jesus's admonision that we be wise as serpant abu innocent as lambs.Chuck Blanchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01417638725063186710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931579729864611467.post-24378317441548379252007-04-28T14:18:00.000-07:002007-04-28T14:18:00.000-07:00Thanks -- now I know exactly why Obama makes me un...Thanks -- now I know exactly why Obama makes me uneasy. Like Niebuhr, he thinks he knows best and we're rubes for struggling for perfection. I adhere to the tradition of struggling for perfection -- with the terrible knowledge that as humans we are doomed to fail. <BR/><BR/>We're probably both wrong. :-)janinsanfranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07548452260456734928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931579729864611467.post-76346039626422988942007-04-28T14:05:00.000-07:002007-04-28T14:05:00.000-07:00Shirley:Thanks for visiting and exploring beyond t...Shirley:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for visiting and exploring beyond the Steinke post. Come back again! <BR/><BR/>I have found Niebuhr the best middle ground between being hopelessness and being naive when it comes to polictics.Chuck Blanchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01417638725063186710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931579729864611467.post-23113270361817926002007-04-28T06:23:00.000-07:002007-04-28T06:23:00.000-07:00Hi, Chuck,I came across your blog while googling D...Hi, Chuck,<BR/><BR/>I came across your blog while googling Darcey Steinke. This post really hits on a struggle I have been aware of for many years. I also grew up Lutheran and like Darcey Steinke, though I have wandered a lot, much of, not just Christianity, but doctrine as expressed in the Lutheran Church, remains the bedrock for me. And it also informs my reaction to political and social causes. Knowing the reality of each individual's sinful nature, I tend to get cynical. But I'm not comfortable there - there HAS to be hope. And there has to be humility. I'm frustrated that brilliant, talented, charismatic people who lead dramatic social and political movements don't recognize the limitations of what they can accomplish simply because the heart of each person has to be changed for such programs to work in the long run. Even if such a program accomplishes good in one generation, another generation of people whose hearts will have to change will come along. I'm glad you're here thinking about these things and writing about them. <BR/><BR/>Shirley Schuette<BR/>Public Historian<BR/>Neuer Gedankengan!<BR/>http://neuer-gedankengang.blogspot.com/Shirley Schuettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02431910568371464279noreply@blogger.com