Karl Barth and Hans Urs von Balthasar A Critical Engagement [Hardcover]

Karl Barth and Hans Urs von Balthasar are two of the most important theologians of the last century. Although one being Reformed and the other Catholic, they kept a lifelong friendship which also influenced their theological work. The book argues for the crucial influence of von Balthasar's meeting with and study of Barth for the emergence of his own great theological trilogy, beginning with The Glory of the Lord, continuing with the Theo-Drama and concluding with the Theo-Logic. In particular it argues that it is von Balthasar's debate with Barth over the analogy of being which is to determine the shape of von Balthasar's subsequent theology, structured as it is around the transcendentals of being, the beautiful, the good and the true.

Introduction to the book

1) 'No brief encounter': the relationship between Barth and von Balthasar
2) 'From dialectic to analogy':The Theology of Karl Barth
3) 'Beauty and Being':The Glory of the Lord
4) 'Participating in the action': theTheo-Drama
5) 'Speaking the truth in love': theTheo-Logic
6) Anselm: a case study in the approaches of Barth and von Balthasar
7)Epilogue& concluding reflections (including Concluding Unscientific Postscript)