THE RELATIONS OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION
New York, 1958. Item #38900
1st Edition. Type-Written Manuscript. 21 pages ; 28 cm. This is a type-written copy of Reinhold Niebuhr’s essay first published in Pious and Secular America (Scribner, 1958) . Probably typed by the author or the publisher prior to publication for circulation to colleagues; this copy originates from professorial files of a prominent Jewish seminary. The essay marked a serious change in Niebuhr’s views on conversion. “As a young pastor in Detroit, he favored conversion of Jews to Christianity, scolding evangelical Christians who were anti-Semitic or ignoring them. He spoke out against ‘the unchristlike attitude of Christians’ and what he described as his fellow Christians' ‘Jewish bigotry…’ Eventually his theology evolved to the point where he was the first prominent Christian theologian to argue it was inappropriate for Christians to seek to convert Jews to their faith. ’” (Wikipedia, 2017) It is the latter position that Niebhur defends in this landmark essay. Niebuhr is widely regarded as one of the most important theologians and ethicists in American (and protestant) history. “Historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Described Niebuhr as ‘the most influential American theologian of the 20th century’ and Time posthumously called Niebuhr ‘the greatest Protestant theologian in America since Jonathan Edwards. ’” (Wikipedia, 2017) OCLC lists no copies worldwide. Some edge wear with the bottom corners folded. Overall very good- condition. (BR5) (AMR-52-18).
Price: $300.00