When I read Barth I feel like this:
And then I read Barthians and I feel like doing this:
At which point I’m like:
B”H
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Funny! Even if I disagree (about Barth, not necessarily many Barthians).
Rick: It’s just that I find myself wanting to dive into Barth’s theology and then when I try I find it’s impenetrable!
How come there is such a fascination with Barth among evangelicals? I find Tillich and Rahner far more stimulating than Barth.
Richard: I’ve avoided Tillich up until this point and I can’t see that changing anytime soon. I have it on good authority that he’s severely overrated. That said, I think Barth is overrated as well, but he’s worth my time. Rahner’s okay too.
I am not sure Tillich is overrated, he still speaks into our current climate. I would definitely recommend a read of John Maquarrie. Keith Ward’s material is also useful.
Isn’t it a bit of a contradiction to say “I have it on good authority that X is overrated”? By definition, the “good authority” ( GA)has lowered the rating on X, and since you have not read X, you have to accept the rating of GA.
Suppose GA says Joe’s Diner is a two star restaurant, and you believe GA. Then, you accept GA’s rating of two stars. If you say that Joe’s Diner is overrated, then you are rejecting GA.
It seems the only way you could have on FA that X is overrated is if someone said to you: “X is good, but this statement is a lie.” However, this is veering dangerously close to the Liar’s Paradox (a subject about which the historical Theophrastus — from whom I take my web moniker — wrote three scrolls and even Scripture touches on: see Titus 1:12).
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I could argue with you about Tillich, but I don’t think I would convince you, so instead I will quote you something that appears in David Novak’s book Talking With Christians — about the relationship between Paul Tillich and one of his most significant intellectual influences, Martin Buber:
Richard: I’ve read some of Ward’s stuff. I like him well enough.
Theophrastus: Clever.
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