An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story

Starring: Niebuhr, Reinhold and Carter, Jimmy

Product Description

Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer remains one of the most quoted writings in American literature. Yet Niebuhr's impact was far greater, as presidents and civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. often turned to Niebuhr's writings for guidance and inspiration on the most volatile political and social issues of the 20th century. Niebuhr rose from a small Midwest church pulpit to become the nation's moral voice - an American conscience - during some of the most defining moments in American history. From award-winning director Martin Doblmeier comes this powerful, insightful and inspiring documentary, rich in archival material and featuring new interviews with former President Jimmy Carter, civil rights leader Andrew Young, New York Times writer David Brooks, author Susannah Heschel, and a host of notable historians and theologians.

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 720229917278
• Release Date: January 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Publisher: First Run Features
• Director: Doblmeier, Martin
• Starring: Niebuhr, Reinhold, Carter, Jimmy
• Runtime: 1 hour
• Number of Disks: 1
• Other Video Info: DVD
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

A commie watched by the FBI - file no. 77-17305

Somehow, even though I lived through the Niebuhr years, I have never heard of him. I guess that is why we have this An American Conscience series. The first problem you will notice is that it is mostly a bunch of soundbites; they cannot concentrate on one presenter at a time or for an exceptionally long time. We get a lot of film clips of history with the same soundbite people. He may be best known as the author of the famous Serenity Prayer. God, give us the serenity to accept what cannot be changed; Give us the courage to change what should be changed; Give us the wisdom to distinguish one from the other. - prayer said to have been first published in 1951; Richard Wightman Fox, Reinhold Niebuhr (1985) “Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.” – “Children of Light and Children of Darkness” (1944) foreword. This prayer was also included in a prayer book given to American G.I.s on the front of II. There is a good Miles Wallace interview that has not been remastered. He, as vice president of the Socialist Party, runs for New York State Senate. Oh no, Reinhold Nieber turns anti-commie during the Cold War. Watch and find out why. He almost turns Joseph Campbell into following your bliss and engaging with the world. Watching the Vietnam War on T.V. irked him. Yet in recognition of his contribution to American life, Reinhold Niebuhr was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, alongside the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the decision of the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." The DVD and companion book are available You will miss a lot of the content of the documentary with this review, as it would take pages and pages to tell what you will see.