OTTO,RUDOLF AND THE POLITICS OF UTOPIA

In 1920 Rudolf Otto founded an international league to work for right, justice and peace. Known as the Religiöser Menschheitsbund, the league was a deliberate attempt to provide a necessary moral and non-political complement to the League of Nations. The article examines the history of the Religiöser Menschheitsbund, its ideology and practice and its contexts. Its aim is to show that in significant respects Otto's mature work reflects his convictions as a religious left liberal. We resolutely cherish the 'Utopia': we are convinced that through arousing and uniting human consciences it is possible to sever the course of history from the dark sway of blind 'social laws' and from the demonic powers of 'group-egoism' and to rationalize it, to subject it to the idea of common interest and justice.1. © 1991.