Jesus Creed

What were the 1950s like? Maybe we should rework that question to What was the future’s hope as expressed in the 50s? George Marsden: The 50s were in continuity with the American Enlightenment in the hope or belief that “a coalition of cultural leaders, including some religious leaders, despite their differences, could somehow guide the society toward a progressive, enlightened, and humane cultural consensus” (xxiv), from The Twilight of the American Enlightenment.

The whole was undone by a doctrine of toleration’s achievement of diversity at all levels, even calling it at times identity politics, and an epistemology constrained by the scientific method that turned religion into the private world. Pragmatism ruled but natural law and the Enlightenment was the tradition. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr, set his hopes for racism on education. Niebuhr was less optimistic; he sketches the contribution of ML King Jr (who had a theistic foundation for his morals, a foundation rejected by most).