Frank Buchman
Evangelical theologist (1878-1961)
Franklin Nathaniel Daniel Buchman (4 June 1878-7 August 1961), initially a Lutheran pastor, founded in 1921 a ecumenical movement known as the "Oxford Group", which opened to all religions from 1938 onwards under the name of Moral Rearmament. Because of his important contribution to the Franco-German reconciliation, he was decorated by both countries.[1] He was also decorated by the Emperor of Japan Hirohito for his contribution to the regeneration and reintroduction of Japan in the concert of nations after WW II.[2]
Moral attitude edit
- Peace in the world can only spring from peace in the hearts of men.
- Remaking the World: The Speeches of Frank N.D. Buchman, Blandford Press 1947, revised 1958, p. 3
- Upon a foundation of changed lives permanent reconstruction is assured.
- Remaking the World: The Speeches of Frank N.D. Buchman, Blandford Press 1947, revised 1958, p. 5
- Everybody wants to see the other fellow changed. Every nation wants to see the other nation changed. But everybody is waiting for the other fellow to begin. The Oxford Group is convinced that if you want an answer for the world today, the best place is to start with yourself. This is the first and fundamental need.
- Remaking the World: The Speeches of Frank N.D. Buchman, Blandford Press 1947, revised 1958, p. 24
- When men change, nations change.
- Remaking the World: The Speeches of Frank N.D. Buchman, Blandford Press 1947, revised 1958, p. 187
- Suppose everybody cared enough, everybody shared enough, wouldn't everybody have enough? There is enough in the world for everyone's needs but not enough for everyone's greed.
- Remaking the World: The Speeches of Frank N.D. Buchman, Blandford Press 1947, revised 1958, p. 46
Quotes on the war of ideas edit
- Materialism is our great enemy.[3] It is the chief "ism" we have to combat and conquer. It is the mother of all the "isms". Without the conquest of materialism, our nations will decay from within while we prepare to defend ourselves against attacks from without.
- Remaking the World: The Speeches of Frank N.D. Buchman, Blandford Press 1947, revised 1958, p. 126
- Divisions are the mark of our time. (...) The truth is that our problem goes deeper than economics or politics. It is ideological. Divisive ideologies strive for the mastery of men's minds. Thousands follow their banners only because they see no convincing alternative. (...) There is a good road humankind must find and follow. It is a God-constructed road. It is the great high road of democracy's inspired ideology. It is valid for any nation. It is essential for world peace.
- Remaking the World: The Speeches of Frank N.D. Buchman, Blandford Press 1947, revised 1958, p. 150
- Division is the work of human pride, hate, lust, fear, greed. Division is the trademark of materialism.[3]
- Remaking the World: The Speeches of Frank N.D. Buchman, Blandford Press 1947, revised 1958, p. 166
- Either we sacrifice our national selfishness for the good of humanity, or we sacrifice the good of humanity to our national selfishness.
- The Revolutionary Path, by Frank Buchman, publisher: Grosvenor Books, 1975, p.23
References edit
- ↑ Edward Luttwak, "Franco-German Reconciliation: The Overlooked Role of the Moral Re-Armament Movement", in Religion, the Missing Dimension of Statecraft, publisher Douglas Johnston & Cynthia Sampson, OUP 1994, page 52
- ↑ Philip Boobbyer, The Spiritual Vision of Frank Buchman, Penn State Press, 2013, 232 pages, p. 9
- ↑ a b Frank Buchman frequently and improperly uses the term "materialism" to denote the set of utilitarian and/or atheist philosophies that marked the twentieth century, including savage capitalism and his sacrosanct selfishness, the various species of fascism and communism; he also calls these ideologies "all -isms". See Philip Boobbyer, The Spiritual Vision of Frank Buchman, Penn State Press, 2013, 232 pages, ISBN: 9780271062945, p.134
