Rufus Jones (1863-1948) helped organize the Quakerspeisung (Quaker feeding effort), saving millions from starvation after the First World War. In Germany he is best known for having travelled to Berlin to seek a personal meeting with Hitler after the Kristallnacht in 1938. And, at the conclusion of a long life devoted to service, it was largely due to Jones that the American Friends Service Committee was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947. But Jones was also the quintessential "American scholar", seeking to harmonize theory and practice. He was a pivotal figure of the 20th century who stayed in close touch with authors and statesmen the world over. He earned a reputation as a modern mystic and an active pacifist, and was regarded as the moral conscience of his era. His scholarship encompassed education and pedagogy, philosophical questions, church and Quaker history, as well as the political issues of the day. Jones dealt with such issues as justice, democracy, and child-rearing. His ideas are still alive today and still arouse controversy. He was particularly anxious to avoid the cultivation of an elite, pleading instead for individual growth and personality development. Over the course of his life, he was awarded twelve academic titles, taught at numerous universities, delivered countless lectures, and was one of the first theologians to recognise the significance of radio and to make full use of it. To this day Rufus Jones is still honored as a "seer", "Protestant mystic", and even as a "Master Quaker" and "Quaker Giant". It is time also to take a critical look at these honors.

About the Author
The Author: Claus Bernet, Ph.D., is a historian and social worker. The author has published several books. He lives in Berlin.


Book Information
ISBN 9783631589304
Author Claus Bernet
Format Hardback
Page Count 148
Imprint Peter Lang AG
Publisher Peter Lang AG
Weight(grams) 300g