Karl Barth and Radical Politics, Second Edition

by George Hunsinger (Editor)

Overview

Karl Barth was one of the most important Christian theologians of the twentieth century, but his political views have often not been taken sufficiently into account. Beginning with a representative early essay by Karl Barth, this volume proceeds with essays by Friedrich-Wilhelm Marquardt, Helmut Gollwitzer, Hermann Diem, Dieter Schellong, Joseph Bettis, and George Hunsinger. These contributions engage both the relationship of Barth's theology to his socialist politics as well as Marquardt's analysis. This new edition expands upon the earlier one by adding three new essays by Hunsinger on Barth's theology and its relevance for human rights, liberation theology, and the theories of Rene Girard on violence and scapegoating. Hunsinger has extended the discussion as well as deepened our insight into how theology can speak meaningfully about fundamental issues of human need.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781532603952
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	10/17/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	264
File size:	674 KB

About the Author

George Hunsinger is Hazel Thompson McCord Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. He was director of the seminary’s Center for Karl Barth Studies, 1997–2001. His books include How to Read Karl Barth (1991); Disruptive Grace: Studies in the Theology of Karl Barth (2001); For the Sake of the World: Karl Barth and the Future of Ecclesial Theology (2004); Evangelical, Catholic, and Reformed: Doctrinal Essays on Barth and Related Themes (2015); and Reading Barth with Charity: A Hermeneutical Proposal (2015). He is also editor of Thy Word Is Truth: Barth on Scripture (2012), as well as the forthcoming Blackwell Companion to Karl Barth (2 vols.).
George Hunsinger is Hazel Thompson McCord Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. He was director of the seminary’s Center for Karl Barth Studies, 1997–2001. His books include How to Read Karl Barth (1991); Disruptive Grace: Studies in the Theology of Karl Barth (2001); For the Sake of the World: Karl Barth and the Future of Ecclesial Theology (2004); Evangelical, Catholic, and Reformed: Doctrinal Essays on Barth and Related Themes (2015); and Reading Barth with Charity: A Hermeneutical Proposal (2015). He is also editor of Thy Word Is Truth: Barth on Scripture (2012), as well as the forthcoming Blackwell Companion to Karl Barth (2 vols.).

Table of Contents

Note to the Reader vii

Preface to the First Edition ix

Preface to the Second Edition xi

Introduction George Hunsinger xix

Conflict of Opinion xxiii

1 Jesus Christ and the Movement for Social Justice (1911) Karl Barth 1

2 Socialism in the Theology of Karl Barth Friedrich-Wilhelm Marquardt 24

3 Kingdom of God and Socialism in the Theology of Karl Barth Helmut Gollwitzer 50

4 Karl Barth as Socialist: Controversy Over a New Attempt to Understand Him Hermann Diem 86

5 On Reading Karl Barth from the Left Dieter Schellong 101

6 Political Theology and Social Ethics: The Socialist Humanism of Karl Barth Joseph Bellis 117

7 Toward a Radical Barth George Hunsinger 135

8 Karl Barth and Human Rights George Hunsinger 181

9 Karl Barth and Liberation Theology George Hunsinger 193

10 The Politics of the Nonviolent God: Reflections on René Girard and Karl Barth George Hunsinger 210

Select Bibliography of Karl Barth's Works 233

Contributors 235

Acknowledgments 237

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Hunsinger is without question one of the world’s leading authorities on Karl Barth, and this book was also without doubt one of his most seminal contributions to Barth studies. Since its original publication, Hunsinger’s Karl Barth and Radical Politics has guided generations of students in understanding Karl Barth’s theo-political vision. This new updated edition with additional essays by Hunsinger is an enormous gift to us.”

—Willie James Jennings, Yale Divinity School



“This is a very welcome and timely second edition of Hunsinger’s classic collection of arguments in German and English-speaking countries over how engaging Barth’s theology requires engaging Barth’s radical politics—Hunsinger’s new preface and essays challenge progressives inside and outside the church to deal with ‘the depredations of modern banks, intelligence agencies, armament industries, and rapacious corporations’. Caveat emptor.”

—James Buckley, Professor at Loyola University, Maryland



“George Hunsinger, being one of the best Barth scholars, makes a great and provocative contribution to clarifying F. W. Marquardt’s groundbreaking study of Barth’s theology for the relevance of the living God in Jesus Christ to social political issues, especially economic democracy. Like Weber’s thesis on the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism, an affinity between Barth and democratic socialism, that Hunsinger convincingly explores in regard to human rights, liberation, and race, promises to serve as an acumen and red thread in further Barth research. This cannot be overlooked.”

—Paul S. Chung, Author of Karl Barth: God’s Word in Action

Editorial Reviews

Hunsinger is without question one of the world’s leading authorities on Karl Barth, and this book was also without doubt one of his most seminal contributions to Barth studies. Since its original publication, Hunsinger’s Karl Barth and Radical Politics has guided generations of students in understanding Karl Barth’s theo-political vision. This new updated edition with additional essays by Hunsinger is an enormous gift to us.”

—Willie James Jennings, Yale Divinity School



“This is a very welcome and timely second edition of Hunsinger’s classic collection of arguments in German and English-speaking countries over how engaging Barth’s theology requires engaging Barth’s radical politics—Hunsinger’s new preface and essays challenge progressives inside and outside the church to deal with ‘the depredations of modern banks, intelligence agencies, armament industries, and rapacious corporations’. Caveat emptor.”

—James Buckley, Professor at Loyola University, Maryland



“George Hunsinger, being one of the best Barth scholars, makes a great and provocative contribution to clarifying F. W. Marquardt’s groundbreaking study of Barth’s theology for the relevance of the living God in Jesus Christ to social political issues, especially economic democracy. Like Weber’s thesis on the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism, an affinity between Barth and democratic socialism, that Hunsinger convincingly explores in regard to human rights, liberation, and race, promises to serve as an acumen and red thread in further Barth research. This cannot be overlooked.”

—Paul S. Chung, Author of Karl Barth: God’s Word in Action

From the Publisher