Decent theological totty
On a rather different note ...I don't mean to make any of you feel jealous or anything, but some of you know that I live only a 30 minute bike ride away from one of the finest theological libraries in the whole world. On top of that, Tübingen sports a few respectable second-hand book shops filled with all kinds of treasures. And so I spent a while today rummaging through the labyrinths of shelves in search of decent theological totty. I came home with some real goodies from the library, and I purchased second-hand:
- Große christliche Denker, Hans Küng (München: Piper, 1994) for just 2 Euros!
- Existiert Gott? Antwort auf die Gottesfrage der Neuzeit, Hans Küng (München: DTV, 1981 [1978]), just 3 Euros.
- Gott und Mensch. Vier Untersuchungen über das personhafte Sein, D. Emil Brunner (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1930), again, just 2 Euros.
Given a number of recentish blog debates, especially on Ben's Faith and Theology, my theology of creation has been brought into question. And so I'm hoping that Küng's Der Anfang aller Dinge is going to help me think through a few of my new issues. Has anyone read it? Indeed, has anyone any comments about Küng and/or his works listed above?
posted by Chris Tilling @ 11:40 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
My face is green with envy -- as green as your blog's background. ;-)
I'm planning to get his new book on Naturwissenschaft und Religion shortly. So far I have only read a couple of reviews of it, but I expect it will be excellent. Anything by Küng is always well worth reading.
And since you live in Tübingen, does your bike-ride to the University also take you past his house?
Those weren't web based reviews were they?
And I must admit, I don't usually bike-ride into Tübingen - I'm too much of a lazy git for that. I'll wait till the car is available!
I assume you want to make poverty history? I don't know why...call it a hunch or something...
Thanks for the compliment regarding my blog.
And I know you are absolutely correct about the 'emergent conversation'. What you need to know about me is I am delightfully evil. I love to play devil's advocate so as to get those I'm arguing with to come to the conclusion on their own...SHH! Don't tell them.
I like the emergent movement. I love it's call for the Christian congregation to return to its biblical ways of missions and fellowship. I hate the modern day American way of 'doing church'.
I am not willing, as of yet, to completely embrace the emergent movement because of its lack of solidity. I do not want to bed myself with such people as McLeran or Raschke for the very reason that I believe them to be theologically incorrect.
However, if the emergent movement does solidify itself more, and creates for itself a definition where one could be emergent (wanting missions and communion and hating 'American church') without having to be classified as the same branch of theology as some of its current proponents, I think you will get more people such as I backing the movement.
In other words, if it can be safe for me, a reformed Christian, to be emergent, then I think you will get the vote of the reformed Christians to back the emergent movement.
Right now, it is not safe.
No, I don't think I read anything online -- and they weren't academic reviews, more like promotional blurbs about the book.
If you read the book any time soon, maybe you could blog a short review -- I'd love to know what you think about it.
Sofyst,
Thanks for your great comments!
I like the emergent movement. You ought to know, my comments were not meant as an emerging church apology. I am not in bed with the emerging church either - even if I can honestly say that I've learnt a lot from the publications of and personal relationships with some of its leaders. To be honest, I have no idea who I am in bed with anymore. Actually, I'd better change this analogy before my wife gets worried.
... if the emergent movement does solidify itself more. I hear you! I understand, but I wonder if that is part of the point. Many are suggesting: look, systematic solidification abuses the bumpy scriptural narrative. Perhaps we will be waiting for a long time if we want a list of what we believe/don't believe.
… Right now, it is not safe.
I agree, but I guiess that's what attracts me to it. Is the bible safe? Is the human ability to formulate and systematise safe? Should the emerging chuch be safe?
All the very best, and thanks for leaving your comments on my blog.
Hi Ben,
Yet another free book from Jim! I'm starting to go green now!
I've been really enjoying this new Küng book, and I hope to finish it over christmas if Anja lets me get away with it. So I will probably blog a short review start of new year.
All the best,
Chris
Great -- I'll look forward to reading your review.
Post a Comment
<< Home