The Life of Albert Schweitzer

Back in college I read a biography of Albert Schweitzer, and he has always been something of a personal hero of mine, along side Ghandi and Mother Theresa. For those of you that are unacquainted with Schweitzer, he was a world renowned organist, and theologian, but is best known as a humanitarian. He literally walked away from a life of fame and importance in the modern world. Citing his deep commitment to the teachings of Jesus, he became a doctor, and started a free hospital in the heart of Africa, in the country of Gabon, living more than half of his life working and sweating for the benefit of the suffering people in that nation. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in 1952.

I wrote a paper on his life, and consider it one of the defining moments of my college career. It forced me to consider what is really important in my life, and reminded me of the suffering that happens in the world - but most of all, that there are amazing people that are willing to stand up and make the world a better place - and I can be one of those people. Sure, I may not do something quite so dramatic as Schweitzer, but on a daily basis I can be a better person, a moral person. Whenever I get depressed about the suffering, death, and destruction that happens in the world, these thoughts fill me with hope and conviction that its not so bad as it seems.

Although it is rather lengthy, I am going to post the contents of my paper below.

****

Albert Schweitzer: True to Convictions in Adversity

A review of "Schweitzer" by George Marshall and David Poling.

On a spring day in the Alcase during the 1880’s, two young boys climbed a hill with homemade slingshots with the intent to kill some birds. One might think this a harmless adventure by meddlesome youngsters, but the experiences of the day would become life changing for young Albert Schweitzer. As Albert and his friend Henry crouched and waited, their prey approached. Marshall and Poling relate, “Just at the moment of attack, a distant bell began to ring. It was the warning bell that always preceded the bell ringing of Lent, and for Albert it seemed to represent a divine warning.” (pg. 4) Moved by compassion for the birds he leapt to his feet and scared the birds away.

Schweitzer wrote later, “From that day onward I took courage to emancipate myself from the fear of men, and whenever my inner convictions were at stake I let other people’s opinions weigh less with me than they had done previously.” (pg. 5) This conviction became a guiding principle in the life of a truly great man that was dedicated to the search for truth, and living his life according to his convictions in spite of opposition from family, peers, and even world renowned personalities. Throughout this paper, I will review Schweitzer’s life and the major examples of his search for truth, and how he was an advocate for his own personal convictions of what was right and moral. Schweitzer’s biography by Marshall and Poling was an invaluable source of information and will be cited extensively here.

Albert’s search for truth began at an early age. His father was a pastor and he was deeply interested in religion. As he studied for his confirmation, he struggled with deep religious questions to which his teachers could not give satisfactory answers. Often he was told to accept things on faith rather than attempt to explain them by reason. At this young age, Albert formed a conviction that contradicted his teacher. He thought that religious principles can and should be explained with reason, and he resolved to do just that. The young Schweitzer would forever be deeply interested in religion and always acted on his principles.

Throughout his impressive academic career he would challenge current philosophical and theological thought. He proved to be brilliant student and his college professors encouraged him in his unique ideas. Studying in Berlin and Paris, he obtained doctorate degrees in philosophy and theology, as well as studying organ performance under some of the most famous instructors of the time.

The thesis for his philosophy doctorate was the treatise, The Religious Philosophy of Kant from the Critique of Pure reason to Religion Within the Limits of Reason Alone. The treatise was an ingenious look at Kant’s works in which he advocated a new interpretation of Kant’s views on religion which explained certain contradictions that leading scholars had been baffled with. Up until this time, no one had really dared to challenge Kant’s thoughts on religion and morals.

For his theological doctorate he attempted to discover the historical veracity of the account of the Last Supper. This work culminated later in the publication of The Quest of the Historical Jesus, which was very controversial. Schweitzer would come under fire throughout his life as a clergyman for the truths that he believed he found. He eventually gave up being a pastor because he could not in good conscience teach others the doctrines of his church that he disagreed with. Upon leaving the seminary he said, “I decided that I would make my life my argument. I would advocate the things I believed in terms of the life I lived and what I did.” (pg. 56)

By the age of thirty, Schweitzer had two doctorates, was a world famous organist and thinker, and had published several best selling works on theology and philosophy. Yet, he was restless. His conscience drove him on a quest for something more. He realized that school and success came to him naturally and thought it unfair that his classmates should struggle to be able to perform. Marshall and Poling give the following insight into his thoughts: “In this moment of epiphany, Schweitzer decided that he must pay back life for all its goodness.” He decided that he would work and be published but, at age thirty, “he would give his life to the world.” (pg. 52) I suppose that many of us have felt grateful for our blessings and may have even held this view at one time or another. What makes Albert Schweitzer different, is he put his whole energy and soul into his conviction.

After stumbling across an advertisement for a mission in Africa, he decided that he had found the opportunity that he was looking for. He wanted to be a doctor and serve the people. His new found conviction, like much of his brilliant work as a scholar, would not be exempt from opposition. To the dismay of his father, who thought he should continue the family tradition and be a pastor, he began studying for his third doctorate degree in medicine. His colleagues were all baffled; this brilliant man who would likely live out his life quite comfortably as a renowned thinker, theologian, and musician, was throwing it all away for years of extra study, great financial burden and obscurity. Albert Schweitzer felt the impelling need to live true to his convictions as a Christian. He wanted to live a charitable life full of service, and he would not be swayed by the opinions of others.

Yet, his decision to go to Africa was “as much a rejection of European civilization as [it was] an eagerness to repay the gift of life.” (pg. 62.) Many times he stated that Europe was indebted to Africa for the cruelty that it had inflicted upon the continent. He even preached a stirring sermon in 1905 where he advocated foreign charity missions as a part of the atonement of Europe. Europe and the white man had to pay for all of its sins. Such an interesting and singular idea was one of the factors that lead to his decision to go to Africa. (pg. 58)

After receiving his doctorate in medicine, he took several years to prepare for the trip to Africa. Opposition met him at every turn. He struggled to raise funds and obtain the right supplies. When he applied to work with one of the established missions, he was denied because of his controversial theological work. Only after promising that he would not preach, was he eventually able to sway the members of the mission’s directing committee. He would do nothing more than practice medicine.

For the next half century, Albert Schweitzer became what many remember him for the most: an advocate of peace and healing in a third world country ravaged by disease and unrest. His hospital treated Africans and Europeans as equals, something that was quite remarkable for his time, and also a practice that drew criticism from many European patients.

During World War I he was imprisoned by the French because of his German background. However, even imprisonment could not stop Schweitzer from his search for truth and from sharing his convictions. He wrote another book called Philosophy of Civilization where he sharply criticized the decay of European society. (pg. 141) After his release he returned to his beloved hospital.

As his native country of Germany was swept with Nazism, Schweitzer recognized it for what it was and gave a daring speech against Hitler. One might say that he put his own life on the line to be an advocate for justice and peace. He left Germany before World War II began under pressure of friends and family who feared for his life at the hands of the Nazis. (pg. 195)

Throughout the war and the many years to come he toiled with his own hands to expand his hospital and serve the people in the jungle. Many thousands of Africans and Europeans alike, owe him their lives.

His list of accomplishments is astounding. He held three doctorate degrees and was an accomplished organ builder and player, he published many books on theology and philosophy and even a huge work on Johann Sebastian Bach. He rubbed shoulders with the great minds of his time, including a friendship with Albert Einstein, and he received many international awards. Of course the most important of his official recognitions was the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954. He was 79 years old and had been operating the jungle hospital for 41 years.

Not long after his receipt of the coveted prize, he was at it again. He gave thee speeches in which he criticized governments for testing nuclear weapons. (pg. 238) Even in his old age, the wise Albert Schweitzer was an advocate for his inner convictions of what was right and what was wrong.

After nearly another decade of running his hospital he died at the age of 90. As I review the accomplishments of this exceptional man, I can only stand in awe of his compassion and conviction to the betterment of mankind. Here was a man who searched unceasingly for truth. Every time that he found something good or praiseworthy, he became one of its chief advocates. Those personal convictions of compassion, charity, the quest for peace and understanding, were pursued in the face of tremendous opposition from family, friends, church and political institutions.

As I search for application his actions in my own life, I am reminded that one person with conviction to do what he or she believes can truly make a difference for good in this world. When we know that something is right, we should not be afraid to stand up for our convictions. Albert Schweitzer found that truth and many more like it and he ordered his life accordingly.

The Alchemist

I just read The Alchmist, and loved it. It is a story about a young boy from Spain who decides to follow his dream, and ends up crossing continents, meeting amazing people, and learning about how the world works, who he is, and what his true purpose is. I kind of waffled about, not caring too much about reading it, even though it was highly recommended by some friends. However, once I read it, it quickly became one of my favorite novels of all time.

Here are a few deep quotes from it that were particularly meaningful to me:

***

What's the world's greatest lie? It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate.

***

And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

***

When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.

***

The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves.

***

"There is only one way to learn," the alchemist answered. "It's through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey.

***

Every search begins with beginners luck and ends with the victor's being severely tested.

***

Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World.

***

I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we're living now.

***

People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them.

***

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

I just finished reading Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven. It is a short read, and recounts the story of a man's death and one interpretation of what heaven will be like - a place where five people will meet you and explain the meaning behind your life. I read it while on vacation in Utah, and loved it.

A couple of my favorite quotes from the book:

"This is the greatest gift God can give you: to understand what happened in your life. To have it explained. It is the peace you have been searching for." (p. 35)

***

"Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know." (p. 49)

***

"All parents damage their children. It cannot be helped. Youth, like pristine glass, absorbs the prints of its handlers. Some parents smudge, others crack, a few shatter childhood completely into jagged little pieces, beyond repair." (p. 104)

***

"Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves." (p. 141)

***

"Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you’re not really losing it. You’re just passing it on to someone else." (p. 94)

Brave New World

I just finished reading Brave New World, the great novel by Aldous Huxley. For those unacquainted, the book tells of a not-too-distant future where people are manufactured and conditioned from conception to take their place in society. A world government has absolute control over every aspect of society, including individual consumption, occupation, and even religion. I love dystopian stories like this because they allow the author to factor out selected variables in daily life, and explore the meaning behind those that he or she chooses (I hope that made sense). Brave New World does not disappoint - in the final chapters there pages upon pages of biting commentary on the purpose of life, the role of religion and government in society, and the hard choice between happiness and truth. I picked out a few of the more thought provoking sections, given below.

* * *

"Well, duty's duty. One can't can't consult one's own preferences. I'm interested in truth, I like science. But truth's a menace, science is a public danger. As dangerous as it's been beneficent. It has given us the stablest equilibrium in history."

* * *

"What's the point of truth or beauty or knowledge when the anthrax bombs are popping all around you? That was when science first began to be controlled--after the Nine Years' war. People were ready to have even their appetites controlled then. Anything for a quiet life. We've gone on controlling ever since. It hasn't been very good for truth, of course. But it's been very good for happiness. One can't have something for nothing. Happiness has got to be paid for."

* * *

The Savage Interrupted him. "But isn't it natural to feel there's a God?"
"You might as well ask if it's natural to do up one's trousers with zippers," said the Controller sarcastically. "You remind me of another of those old fellows called Bradley. He defined philosophy as the finding of bad reason for what one believes by instinct. As if one believed anything by instinct! One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them. Finding bad reasons for what one believes for other bad reasons--that's philosophy. People believe in God because they have been conditioned to believe in God."
"But all the same," insisted the Savage, "it is natural to believe in God when you're alone--quite alone, in the night, thinking about death..."
"But people are never alone now," said Mustapha Mond. "We make them hate solitude; and we arrange their lives so that it's almost impossible for them ever to have it."

* * *

"But God's the reason for everything noble and fine and heroic. If you had a God..."
"My dear young friend," said Mustapha Mond, "civilization has absolutely no need of nobility or heroism. These things are symptoms of political inefficiency. In a properly organized society like ours, nobody has any opportunities for being noble or heroic. Conditions have got to be thoroughly unstable before the occasion can arise. Where there are wars, where there are divided allegiances, where there are temptations to be resisted, objects of love to be fought for or defended--there obviously, nobility and heroism have some sense. But there aren't any wars nowadays. The greatest care is taken to prevent you from loving any one too much. There's no such thing as a divided allegiance you're so conditioned that you can't help doing what you ought to do. And what you ought to do is on the whole so pleasant, so many of the natural impulses are allowed free play, that there really aren't any temptations to resist.

* * *

"But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin."
"In fact," said Mustapha Mond, "you're claiming the right to be unhappy"
"All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy."
"Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to have too little to eat; the right to be lousy; the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen to-morrow; the right to catch typhoid; the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind."
There was a long silence.
"I claim them all", said the Savage at last.
Mustapha Mond shrugged his shoulders. "You're welcome," he said.