Description
Book SynopsisSven Ensminger (PhD, Bristol University, UK) is an Adjunct Teaching Fellow at the University of St. Andrews, UK
Trade ReviewEnsminger’s extrapolations [in
Karl Barth’s Theology as a Resource for a Christian Theology of Religions] provide the first steps for thinking with Barth for a theology of religions relevant for the third millennium, arguably what the Swiss theologian would have wanted the contemporary church to take up. * Religious Studies Review *
Ensminger’s book offers much in the way of contributions to both Barth studies as a whole and the emerging conversation around Barth, religion, and non-Christian religions, in particular… Finally, one feature of Ensminger’s text that establishes it as unique in the emerging body of scholarship on Barth and religion is Ensminger’s attention to Barth as a decidedly pastoral theologian, thus locating Barth’s thinking about religion amongst pastoral, rather than purely dogmatic, concerns. -- Nicholas Krause * The Center for Barth Studies *
Ensminger’s work is an important contribution to the theology of religions conversation. It has the potential to re-engage Barthians in the conversation while encouraging scholars in the field to re-consider Barth as a resource. * Journal of Reformed Theology *
A generally reliable piece of exposition. … Ensminger—and Barth—deliver handsomely. -- W. Travis McMaken, Lindenwood University, USA * Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology *
In the theology of religions Barth fell out of favour for a time. In this book Sven Ensminger helps to re-establish Barth as a key, constructive and rigorous voice. He shows that Barth is able to defend and elaborate his own complex and unique Reformed theological vision regarding revelation and the 'religions'. Ensminger also takes Barth and puts him into useful dialogue with Hick and Rahner. This book will be helpful to Barth specialists as well as those who are concerned about Christian attitudes to other religions. * Gavin D'Costa, University of Bristol, UK *
Sven Ensminger shows convincingly that Karl Barth’s examination of 'religion' and his qualification of the non-christian religions cannot be classified simply as 'exclusivism'. In his thorough study he outlines Barth’s multi-faceted doctrine of revelation and his understanding of religion. He takes Barth’s theological anthropology and his doctrine of election into account and relates Barth’s approach to Rahner’s 'inclusivism' and Hick’s 'pluralism'. The strength of the study lies in comprising a broad spectrum of Barth’s works and in drawing on the original German texts. This enables Ensminger to correct some misunderstandings of Barth and sheds new light on his approach as a resource for the current debate on theology of religions. * Reinhold Bernhardt, University of Basel, Switzerland *
Sven Ensminger has provided a valuable addition to the growing body of literature that draws upon Karl Barth’s theology as a resource for a Christian understanding of other faiths. In particular, he argues that Barth is able to combine a commitment to the uniqueness of Jesus as the self-disclosure of God with an openness to the action of God outside the Christian religion. In overcoming some standard misreadings of Barth, Ensminger offers his work as an important resource for current debates about the relationship of Jesus to the religions of the world. * David Fergusson, University of Edinburgh, UK *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1 1.1 Barth’s Doctrine of Revelation 1.2 Approaching the doctrine of Revelation 1.3 The one revelation of Jesus Christ and other Revelations 1.4 Conclusion
Chapter 2 2.1 Barth’s Understanding of Revelation and Religion 2.2 Approaching Barth’s Understanding of Religion 2.3 Analysis of §17 of Church Dogmatics 2.4 Revisiting Revelation in the Context of Religion 2.5 Conclusion
Chapter 3 3.1 Barth’s Theological Anthropology and Doctrine of Sin 3.2 Approaching Barth’s Theological Anthropology 3.3 Barth’s Doctrine of Sin 3.4 Conclusion
Chapter 4 4.1 Barth’s Doctrine of Election – The Electing God and the Elected Human Being 4.2 Approaching the Doctrine of Election 4.3 The Question of Universalism & Human Freedom 4.4 Conclusion
Chapter 5 5.1 Engaging the Inclusivist Paradigm – A Conversation between Karl Rahner and Karl Barth 5.2 Outline of the Inclusivist Paradigm 5.3 Engaging the Inclusivist Paradigm 5.4 Conclusion
Chapter 6 6.1 Engaging the Pluralist Paradigm – John Hick as Question and Challenge to Karl Barth 6.2 Outline of the Pluralist Paradigm 6.3 Engaging the Pluralist Paradigm 6.4 Conclusion
Chapter 7: Conclusion 7.1 Karl Barth’s Theology as Resource for Christian Theology of Religions 7.2 Barth’s Theology in the Field of Christian Theology of Religions 7.3 Barth’s Theology of Religions – A New Approach 7.4 Conclusion
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