Hans Urs von Balthasar Introduction and Sourcebook

by Garrett, Stephen M.

• ISBN13: 9780567663542
• ISBN10: 056766354X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2017-10-19
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark

Summary

Hans Urs von Balthasar's work has had an increasingly significant imapact on theology of 20th century.

This anthology of Balthasar's writings seeks to encourage readers to take the tour of the 'Balthasarian Cathedral' by employing an architectural metaphor, which is based on Balthasar's own depiction of his thinking. The cathedral trope enables readers to locate and engage his works and key themes without losing a sense of the whole. It also provides a blueprint for the structure of Balthasar's thought as a tool to position his writings in order to grasp the breadth and depth of his thinking. So, while the anthology only serves as an introduction by laying out the cathedral floor plan, glancing momentarily at several prominent features, and suggesting extended tours and excursions that require more time and contemplation, it is hoped that patrons will turn these into longer, more sustained gazes of Balthasar's theology. This is enhanced by the inclusion of original source texts and summaries of key ideas, designed to engage with the reader as they survey Balthasar's work. Perhaps, then, the seeds of this anthology will bear the fruit of sustained, critical engagement at a depth indicative of the man himself. Welcome to the tour!

Author Biography

Stephen M. Garrett is an Associate Professor of Public Theology and the Philosophy of Religion at the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences in Lithuania. He also is a guest professor at the European Humanities University and the Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania. He is the author of God's Beauty-in-Act (2013).

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1: Hans Urs von Balthasar: A Life Well-Lived

Part 2: A Cathedral Tour of Hans Urs von Balthasar's Theology: Five Key Themes

Part 3: A Cathedral Anthology of Hans Urs von Balthasar's Works

The Forecourt of the Cathedral
- Excerpts from the following works: The Development of the Musical Idea: An Attempt at a Synthesis of Music (1925), The Apocalypse of the German Soul (1937-1939); The God Question and Modern Man (1967); Presence and Thought: An Essay on the Religious Philosophy of Gregory of Nyssa (1988); Martin Buber and Christianity (1960)

The Threshold of the Cathedral
- Excerpts from the following works: Origen, Spirit and Fire: A Thematic Anthology of His Writings (1938); Cosmic Liturgy: The Universe According to Maximus the Confessor (1988); The Theology of Karl Barth (1951); Theology of History (1959); The Theology of Henri de Lubac (1976)

The Sacred Space of the Cathedral
- Excerpts from the following works: Explorations in Theology: Vol 1: The Word Made Flesh (1960); Vol. 2: Spouse of the Word (1961); Vol. 3: Creator Spirit (1967); Vol. 4: Spirit and Institution (1974); Convergences (1983); Elucidations (1975); New Elucidations (1979)

The Apse of the Cathedral
- Excerpts from the following works: Mysterium Paschale: The Mystery of Easter (1970); Life out of Death (1997); To the Heart of the Mystery of Redemption (2005); Dare We Hope “That All Men be Saved”? (1986); Mary: The Church at the Source (1997)

The Pews of the Cathedral
- Excerpts from the following works: Credo: Meditations on the Apostles Creed (1989); Love Alone is Credible (1963); Engagement with God: The Drama of Christian Discipleship (1971); Grain of Wheat (1953); The Heart of the World (1954); You Have Words of Eternal Life: Scripture Meditations (1989); The Christian State of Life (1977); Prayer (1955); First Glance at Adrienne von Speyr (1968)

The Dome of the Cathedral
- Excerpts from the following works: The Glory of the Lord, 7 vols. (1961-1969); Theo-Drama, 5 vols. (1976-1983); Theo-Logic, 3 vols (1985-1987)

Bibliography
Index