Re-Figuring Theology: The Rhetoric of Karl BarthHere is a rhetorical treatment of Karl Barth's early theology. Although scholars have long noted the rhetorical power of Barth's work, calling it volcanic and explosive, this book uses rhetoric to illuminate the peculiar nature of his prose. It displays a Barth whose prose is radically unstable and inseparable from his theological arguments. The author connects Barth's early theology to the Expressionism of the Weimar Republic. He develops an original theory of figures of speech, relying on the philosophies of Paul Ricoeur and Hayden White, to delve more deeply into the particular configurations of Barth's writings. Nietzsche's hyperbole and Kierkegaard's irony are examined as rhetorical precedents of Barth's style. The closing chapter surveys Barth's later, realistic theology and then suggests ways in which his earlier tropes, especially the figures of excess and self-negation, can serve to enable theology to speak today. |
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ambiguity analysis argument attempt Barth's early Barth's theology become Bible biblical chapter Chicago Christian Church Dogmatics claim concept contradiction criticism critique culture David Tracy Derrida dialectics discourse discussion divine Epistle essay ethical exaggeration example existence expressionism expressionist fact faith figurative Frei Friedrich Nietzsche God's irony Hans Frei Hayden White Hermeneutics human hyperbole Ibid interpretation ironic ironist Jesus Karl Barth Kierkegaard kind language literally literary literature meaning ment metaphor metaphor of crisis Muecke narrative negation Nietzsche Nietzsche's No-God object ology Paul Ricoeur philosophy pluralism poetic political position postmodernism Princeton problem question reader reading realism reality reflection rejection religion religious rhetoric Richard Rorty Romans situation socialism Socrates Søren Kierkegaard speak suggests symbol T. F. Torrance theologian theory things thought tion trans tropes tropical truth understanding University Press Wayne Booth Weimar Culture words writing York