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Niebuhr did battle with the religious liberals over what he called their naïve views of sin and the optimism of the [[Social Gospel]]. He did battle with the religious conservatives over what he viewed as their naïve view of Scripture and their narrow definition of "true religion." He was a leader of liberal intellectuals and supported many liberal causes, but his ideas were often too orthodox for secular liberals, while his view that the Bible could not be taken literally was too liberal for the Fundamentalists. Thus he was too secular for many of the religious and too religious for the secular, but just right for those who appreciated the irony of history.
Niebuhr did battle with the religious liberals over what he called their naïve views of sin and the optimism of the [[Social Gospel]]. He did battle with the religious conservatives over what he viewed as their naïve view of Scripture and their narrow definition of "true religion." He was a leader of liberal intellectuals and supported many liberal causes, but his ideas were often too orthodox for secular liberals, while his view that the Bible could not be taken literally was too liberal for the Fundamentalists. Thus he was too secular for many of the religious and too religious for the secular, but just right for those who appreciated the irony of history.
In recent years conservatives have invoked Niebuhr's emphasis on original sin, his relentless critique of progressive utopianism, and his Cold War anti-communism. An older generation of liberals still sees him as a champion of their attitudes.
In recent years conservatives have invoked Niebuhr's emphasis on original sin, his relentless critique of progressive utopianism, and his Cold War anti-communism. An older generation of liberals still sees him as a champion of their attitudes.<ref> Richard Harries and Stephen Platten, eds. ''Reinhold NIebuhr and Contemporary Politics'' (2010)</ref>
[[File:Niebuhr1.jpg|thumb|270px]]
[[File:Niebuhr1.jpg|thumb|270px]]
* Fox, Richard Wightman. ''Reinhold Niebuhr: A Biography.'' (1985). 325 pp. the standard scholarly biography; a well-researched, fair, and engaging treatment of Niebuhr's theological and political work that emphasizes his skill in working with Scripture and in interpreting human nature and the human condition. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1074984,00.html online review]
* Fox, Richard Wightman. ''Reinhold Niebuhr: A Biography.'' (1985). 325 pp. the standard scholarly biography; a well-researched, fair, and engaging treatment of Niebuhr's theological and political work that emphasizes his skill in working with Scripture and in interpreting human nature and the human condition. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1074984,00.html online review]
* Harland, Gordon. ''The Thought of Reinhold Niebuhr'' (1960) [http://www.questia.com/read/1614760?title=The%20Thought%20of%20Reinhold%20Niebuhr online edition]
* Harland, Gordon. ''The Thought of Reinhold Niebuhr'' (1960) [http://www.questia.com/read/1614760?title=The%20Thought%20of%20Reinhold%20Niebuhr online edition]
* Harries, Richard, and Stephen Platten, eds. ''Reinhold NIebuhr and Contemporary Politics'' (2010)
* Kegley, Charles W., and Robert W. Bretall, eds. ''Reinhold Niebuhr: His Religious, Social, and Political Thought.'' (1956) 486pp 20 essays by scholars and reply by Niebuhr; [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.questia.com%2Flibrary%2Fbook%2Freinhold-niebuhr-his-religious-social-and-political-thought-vol-2-by-robert-w-bretall-charles-w-kegley.jsp&ei=IEosSqqFCpHstAO_sKGhBg&usg=AFQjCNGKxXg76lTTdAHoqGgv6l7YJlXdgQ online edition]
* Kegley, Charles W., and Robert W. Bretall, eds. ''Reinhold Niebuhr: His Religious, Social, and Political Thought.'' (1956) 486pp 20 essays by scholars and reply by Niebuhr; [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.questia.com%2Flibrary%2Fbook%2Freinhold-niebuhr-his-religious-social-and-political-thought-vol-2-by-robert-w-bretall-charles-w-kegley.jsp&ei=IEosSqqFCpHstAO_sKGhBg&usg=AFQjCNGKxXg76lTTdAHoqGgv6l7YJlXdgQ online edition]
* Lovin, Robin. ""Reinhold Niebuhr in Contemporary Scholarship: A Review Essay," ''Journal of Religious Ethics'' 31 (Winter, 2003), 489-505 [http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/niebuhr-rediscovered/lovin-hauerwas.shtml abridged version online]
* Lovin, Robin. ""Reinhold Niebuhr in Contemporary Scholarship: A Review Essay," ''Journal of Religious Ethics'' 31 (Winter, 2003), 489-505 [http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/niebuhr-rediscovered/lovin-hauerwas.shtml abridged version online]