Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic

By Reinhold Niebuhr and Jonathan L. Walton

Renowned theologian Reinhold Niebuhr began his career as pastor of Bethel Evangelical Church in Detroit, Michigan, where he served from 1915–1928. Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic is Niebuhr's account of the frustrations and joys he experienced during his years at Bethel. Addressed to young ministers, this book provides reflections and insights for those engaged in the challenging yet infinitely rewarding occupation of pastoral ministry.

With a foreword from Jonathan Walton on Niebuhr's enduring insights into the challenges and relevance of pastoral ministry, this powerful book remains as useful today as it was last century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Release date: Apr 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781646982004

Reinhold Niebuhr

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) was an American theologian, ethicist, public intellectual, political commentator, and professor at Union Theological Seminary.

Book preview

���Abbook_preview_excerpt.html�Z]�ܶ�+|L��5Z����m.�| I��+Q+�J�LR�V��#�ҿ�_�sfHI{�$6v�9�9s�������U�1L�ׯ�����:۸_�������W/q���z�K�=�~3��>D㓙l^��ո�lc�)���`z{uƚsO'��������S����ɽ�J��bcv�4n�R���p2ѽ�)-��N���K�h��%:��~��Fg&w���dn}07?�}S�����}�imƗ���6�,tr9���W�}���\���Մ۴j�u>��Cj�o#��v�>�@\�PrD<So��8���7X7]L�#̛rz0�t� KT��ݢ��؎��� (}�f�Q� J�fZߊsp ,��=��jX��=��ft�҃y���w���p�:�.�n�n#���'M�1��%2h�~�/���b�;>X�_�.1���΃�c"L +� U$��er6��A��Pprq�1:߇%)U�sH^R�����rV@"��2�$����$��4o�M�9.+��oL��!��C�,���5�Aɥ��t,��v& c4
�7�!��&�x�Ȍt�IQ��q8ݷ$qZ��rv��$��u����}oA� Pa�"C�$�%�w@`�D�3`���%� �z��Ǘ�cY,�<������ߓ���Jo'�l�8�s�m��!��|��� ���uc��}u�c,i ����k%�Ƒ^��D x�S���i�ɉ?~D#�$3B�z>Ӹ��`�F���N��mS�N MS�)0�����)J�*�9�M�$d�g�軎� ���l!&��IO��3Zj�F8�G
�^ ��[f�{�ĭ��:�� H�r���O��қD�a�*s��$��0Э��\QK�T��5�� D tmތ�nj8����LPI���.��2
(�>+��cy��S���e�.��@P4��NF��g4;�Р=)�����\��m/I��n%N��� �IP� ޒ]�U���%�X5H�X�"�>h4��HBL���|��NL�*;T0/t6��{���kje�tO�`��ە��Z��O8� ă%�ίJ���]�V��8ґ�6L8�W�0���l��V*az/|��� MY�BpaX6ߕ2�9�iz����*�5��Fq�*v:r�`&�ҰhϺ'U�#KO��6�^��Ȗ��Au�ꇬ��T�?�3�>`1�d�LR�Z�����&u���� ���q&�Wˆߵ3d�s�_א����j��J[[a����j�%`���4��ka���#�]��(��<���,t�Hς�K"�r����%������� �s_w�p���
�u��|��"�^�y�PĴ8���4L��{ԓe��������6��C�@{���K�����Lv_m�;�i���+9]��NSx_k�ɽ�n(#��dm[׍�X�b����6k#�Z���P�
�k/:Oa`F�r"d�H�Eג�ug�oc�7/�� o+�A˙B��g>�AN�$?��2���:K�ve�H02j*�$MԠ��:��������O�����;ת��E�tRt`I���7��4ўy`�\��w'�؉�$���LO&j��&i�-�l0w��eS%S2��ęE0o�B�ȹY��+7�k4������#�Z|ֱђ�R^0\�-�l٬��rKs��r)\�cer��:��Ã�b��9��Ud�V
��Ϟ�����N���tPGm}|�J;=�Ծ��KQ�`8��u�BTo����]8�Ί "l\�c�*����S�gZz�>���Qza��v�e~2�0Tɾ3�ǥ�q7� { ^��B��݊X���rX_����2��Y'Q�]�NGϩYb�'��~��sy�i��A��󼪄n�B�wsa�zlغ5`X�0�P�h�(��D�j!F���W����N�ֺ:8 V�a{)~G�`�S&j�k�Eo�j�4�w�$j9�BԑEM��59���Y�����l�j�T��e�R��p�4%h�S�[��&)9�W�/{W�:a(�6*; �]ث��!��[�Wq�=��b�����u�i������ڵ�7h/��2�)/����7�{e�R̻2���t�LXK����ͅ0����L�C2�Riv8ӕ��i#��=�11�U����n��Կb���G����p �E^�,&��%���u��$m�hS�e�ࣳ��u`���<�+��:ۼGʥ��/D���+T{�S�Z�������Wu�1��g��e_*��A4�
Sj ��6Z9tt����O�fy1&�G�2y�>{}���ojv3��ѵ�p�\/�d��L>2�B�s�YԉI�!�B�����"g���5���*T}�:�:�(/�e�D߹�����c��g=����F��JJ�թs�v~�x�uS��s@f��
��#��#

Reviews for Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic

[stillatim · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent--the kind of thing that can be read both by the religious and the non-, and really anyone who is interested in watching a quality mind at work. Niebuhr says so many smart things, and says them so attractively, that I'm a little bit in awe.

[nicholasjjordan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Some great stuff on pastoral ministry alongside incredible, insightful cultural analysis. I was going to remove a star because of some major theological problems—sacraments, Christology, general 19th century liberal theology trendiness—but it really is a great and accessible and helpful book.