How to Read Karl Barth: The Shape of His Theology

by George Hunsinger

Book Overview

This critical study decodes the most cryptic and elusive patterns of Karl Barth's dialectic. Hunsinger not only offers a new and authoritative interpretation of Barth's mature theology, but also places Barth's work in relation to contemporary discussions of truth, justified belief, double agency, and religious pluralism. Through a fresh and compelling reading of Church Dogmatics, Hunsinger offers a new account of the coherence of that work as a whole...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195059743
• ISBN13: 9780195059748
• Release Date: December 1990
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.9" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A valuable tool for reading Barth!

This book stands on its own in the field of "Introducing Karl Barth." Hunsinger's book is exactly what it says it is: a book on HOW TO READ Karl Barth. Hunsinger believes that pattern-recognition can not only to help the inexperienced and overwhelmed readers of Barth, but can also aid the academy of our time to read him more holistically. This book becomes more difficult the farther one goes into it. I would suggest that one not try to read it on its own apart from Barth's works. As a philosophy major and follower of Christ, what I find attractive about Barth and Hunsinger is their strong capability in logic and analysis, which is governed by the theological task itself (and not the other way around!). The other reviews describe the content of the book sufficiently, so let me end by claiming that this book shows just why Hunsinger is considered by John Webster (at Aberdeen) to be "a matchless reader of Barth." In fact, I would venture to claim that Hunsinger is probably the most capable reader in theology today! His model of pattern-recognition provides a helpful model in reading other theologians, especially those who did not write in linear fashion. I would highly suggest taking a class with Professor Hunsinger at Princeton Theological Seminary if you ever have the chance.

One of the Most Perceptive Accounts of Barth's Theology

Hunsinger is a matchless reader of Karl Barth and we are in his debt for this book. Barth, as has been noted time and again, is no easy read. Though his German edition of the CD received awards for the style in which he wrote, the English edition is difficult even for the most dedicated. The 50 pages we were required to read weekly in seminary during classes on Barth's CD sometimes seemed a tremendous amount. Yet, one was always rewarded for the patience required in reading such an amount on a regular basis--one volume completed by the end of the semester. When it is all said and done--Barth's work is simply overwhelming and awe-inspiring. Hunsinger helps us all by pointing out important themes in Barth's work. To have these various themes pointed out, helps immeasureably. One cannot read Hunsinger's book without gaining a deeper appreciation for Barth's complexity or his achievement, or Hunsinger's abilities as a theologian and teacher/ writer. Along with Bruce McCormack's book on Barth this is an absolutely necessary volume for anyone interested in Barth's theology.

an essential guide to reading the church dogmatics

I got this book after I had been reading Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics for a year. Barth's writing is truly dense, and has led to many misunderstandings of him. This book has helped me to notice patterns that I had missed before. I read this book in parallel with Barth's treatment of divine election, and this book saved me from misinterpreting Barth as a universalist. In terms of practical use, I can't think of a better book.Having taken a class from him, he is a truly brilliant teacher, and he has helped me to pay close attention to the text. One of the poverties in American theology is that the art of commentary has been lost. The medieval universities trained the Scholastic theologians by making them do close readings (lectio) of important texts (e.g. the Bible, Lombard's Sentences, etc.). Whether you agree with the Scholastics or not is one thing, but you cannot deny that the disciplined approach to theology led to some monumental achievements. Hunsinger's book is a tool to help you do that with Barth.This book has two parts. The first part suggests six patterns that run throughout the Church Dogmatics (particularism, actualism, realism, personalism, rationalism and another one which I can't recall just now). The second part is a set of etudes on Barth's theology utilizing the 6 patterns. Hunsinger addresses the issue of double agency in Barth's soteriology, secular parables of the kingdom of God, his view of revelation, etc.On a different subject, the other best secondary sources on Barth are Bruce McCormack's intellectual history of the pre-dogmatics Barth, John Webster's _Ethics of Reconciliation_ and Hans Urs Von Balthasar's classic study.

An excellent resource

This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the theology of Karl Barth. George Hunsinger has provided the theological community with a new, refined vocabulary for analyzing Barth's (and others') theology. He expounds a number of characteristic thought patterns characteristic of Barth's theology (and which might give considerable trouble to the new reader) and makes them accessible. His study is very helpful in bringing out the coherence and import of Barth's work. Reading this book is a great aid in accessing Barth's theology (right up there with learning German!)