Religious symbols and social criticism in the thought of Reinhold Niebuhr

"An analysis of Niebuhr's writings indicates that he characteristically interpreted religious myths and symbols in such a way as to focus critical reflection upon the public events of his time. Thus the interrelationship between religious symbols and social criticism can be interpreted as forming the specific unity of Reinhold Niebuhr's theological discourse. The dissertation will explore various aspects of that interrelationship in order to assess the continued relevance of [his] work to the constructive tasks of practical theology"--Introd.