The Autonomy Theme in the Church Dogmatics
Karl Barth and his Critics

This notable book, written by a Roman Catholic theologian, provides a comprehensive and useful guide to the 'new wave' of German Barth interpretation.

John Macken (Author)

9780521072373, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 14 August 2008

244 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.5 cm, 0.33 kg

"...a comprehensive and commendable study that contributes to understanding Barth's position in the Kantian tradition...The final chapter is an excellent conclusion and evaluation... No scholar with an interest in Barth or the manner in which theology has dealt with Kantian problems should miss this work." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

The problem of human freedom before God echoes through the conflicts of western theology since Augustine and Pelagius and has posed an acute question to theologians for the past 200 years. Karl Barth, perhaps the greatest Protestant theologian of the twentieth century, faced not only the question of autonomy but also the theological answers that liberals had attempted to provide to it. His dissatisfaction with their answers led him to start a theological counter-revolution, which was thought to adopt a negative answer to the question of autonomy. In this careful study Fater Macken shows that a major re-interpretation of Barth's thought in this regard took place since 1968, and that - far from being an opponent of human freedom in relation to God - Barth is now thought to have proposed a positive account of human autonomy as his theology developed. Dr Macken demonstrates that Barth was neither fundamentalist nor conservative, but a creative and original thinker. This notable book, written by a Roman Catholic theologian, provides a comprehensive and useful guide to the 'new wave' of German Barth interpretation.

Preface
Introduction
1. The history of the term 'autonomy'
2. Kant and the term 'autonomy'
3. Fichte: the Ich as first principle of philosophy
4. Autonomy opposed to theism?
Part I. Autonomy in the Church Dogmatics: 5. The background: Barth's reaction against Liberal theology
6. Autonomy, theonomy and heteronomy in the Prolegomena
7. Autonomy in the doctrine of Election
8. The doctrine of Creation: against rival concepts of autonomy
9. The doctrine of Reconciliation: correspondence and distinction between God and man
10. Nature as distinct from grace: the Lights of the World
11. Autonomy and Baptism: the ethical subject distinct from God
Part II. The Autonomy Theme in Barth Criticism Since 1950: 12. Barth criticism before 1968: a negative balance - Wolfhart Pannenberg
13. Barth's positive relationship to modern autonomy: Barth criticism since 1968
14. Autonomy and Idealism in Barth
15. Autonomy and ontology: Eberhard Jüngel
Part III. Conclusions: 16. Critical questions
17. Autonomy in the Church Dogmatics
List of abbreviations
Notes
Bibliography
Author index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM]