Hans Urs Von Balthasar and ProtestantismThis book examines Balthasar's engagement with Protestantism, primarily in the persons of Martin Luther and Karl Barth, a topic which has not yet been given the attention it deserves. Furthermore, instead of focusing on particular theological issues, such as soteriology or ecclesiology, the book examines the implications of this engagement for Fundamental Theology. At the very root of Luther's confrontation with the Catholic Church of the Late Middle Ages, lies his antipathy for Aristotle and for "natural theology." In other words, the Protestant difference has as much to do with its suspicion of the treatment of faith and reason in Catholic thought as it does of the Catholic treatment of faith and works. This is a suspicion that is only exacerbated in Barth's identification of the "analogy of being" with the Antichrist. Balthasar takes these criticisms very seriously, and, in addressing them, not only has much of relevance to say to the Catholic-Protestant differences, but also has much to say to the Yale-Chicago differences. In short, this study treats primarily Balthasar's dialogue with Luther and Barth, with the hope that this dialogue will shed light on the impasse that seems to have arisen between the so-called "correlation" and "revelocentric" schools of contemporary theology. If, indeed, Christ is the "concrete universal," then we shouldn't have to decide between the two. Part of this proposal, then, is to emphasize the fact that Balthasar refuses to separate Fundamental and Dogmatic theology. |
Contents
Balthasar and Dialogue | 9 |
Balthasar on Luthers Theologia Crucis | 42 |
Balthasar on Barth and the Analogia Entis | 77 |
The Cosmological and Anthropological Alternatives | 100 |
The Cosmological Approach | 110 |
Balthasars | 117 |
Summary and Conclusion | 130 |
Notes | 166 |
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Common terms and phrases
Aidan Nichols already analogy approach Aquinas aspects attempt Balthasar insists Balthasar's critique Balthasar's theology Balthasar's understanding Balthasar's view become Catholic theology chapter Christian christocentric Christology Church Fathers Communio concept concern concrete context creation creature critique of Rahner cross dialectical discussion distinction divine doctrine ecclesiology ecumenical ecumenical dialogues emphasis Étienne Gilson existence fact faith glory God's Henri de Lubac human freedom humanity's Ibid Ignatius Press implications incarnation infinite freedom Jesus Christ justice Karl Barth Karl Rahner knowledge Lubac Luther and Barth Luther's theology Maréchal medieval metaphysics modern mystery mysticism nature and grace neo-Scholastic nominalist notion patristic person philosophy positive precisely problem Protestant Protestantism question radical realm reason redemption relationship revelation righteousness Rowan Williams San Francisco scripture simply soteriology speak spirit supernatural tendency theologian theological aesthetics things thinkers Thomas Thomas Aquinas Thomistic thought trans transcendence transcendental truth understood unity Urs von Balthasar words