tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post115193096603256918..comments2024-01-25T05:44:34.896+02:00Comments on God in a Shrinking Universe: Quarter-final 4: von Balthasar vs. PannenbergPatrikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237545786695465374noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1152049722455708802006-07-05T00:48:00.000+03:002006-07-05T00:48:00.000+03:00von Balthasar wins 12 - 7von Balthasar wins 12 - 7Patrikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237545786695465374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1152017635610359842006-07-04T15:53:00.000+03:002006-07-04T15:53:00.000+03:00aaron, it might be that I've really only been awar...aaron, it might be that I've really only been aware of theology as a discipline since 2000. Prior to that I was practicing in a tradition that was hostile to higher learning, well actually before that I was recovering in a great little Baptist church from too many years pastoring in a tradition hostile to higher learning. So that could explain it - but still I attend a pontifical university, why no mention of vB if he is so profound? This is a cutting edge school too - St. Paul in Ottawa. Wicked awesome library.One of Freedomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479227411431959461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1152013544542713112006-07-04T14:45:00.000+03:002006-07-04T14:45:00.000+03:00One of freedom -- never heard of vonBalthasar??!! ...One of freedom -- never heard of vonBalthasar??!! Where have you been living?? <BR/><BR/>I vote one vBaaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06510939349715766090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151994830877504252006-07-04T09:33:00.000+03:002006-07-04T09:33:00.000+03:00PannenbergA stellar theologian who's theology stil...Pannenberg<BR/><BR/>A stellar theologian who's theology still begs to be dealt with even moreJordan Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17026721955455243868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151994164219921352006-07-04T09:22:00.000+03:002006-07-04T09:22:00.000+03:00von BalthasarI think it's a shame these two had to...von Balthasar<BR/><BR/>I think it's a shame these two had to be set against each other at this stage. Pannenberg is one of the best and most creative 20th-century theologians -- and I even admire his Hegelianism (why should "Hegelian" be a dirty word anyway?). And as an interpreter of Scripture, Pannenberg is <I>far</I> more sophisticated than Balthasar.<BR/><BR/>But it's still hard to justify voting for Pannenberg against Balthasar. I agree with the sentiment that Balthasar will probably be a lasting force in Christian theology, whereas Pannenberg's influence is already waning.<BR/><BR/>So I vote for Balthasar only with great reluctance and some sadness....Ben Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151974748649595512006-07-04T03:59:00.000+03:002006-07-04T03:59:00.000+03:00BalthasarWhat more is there to say about Pannenbur...Balthasar<BR/><BR/>What more is there to say about Pannenburg other than he is a Hegelian? Do we want a closed, defined system of theology (in three volumes) or an enrapturing acount of God as Beauty, Truth and Goodness that can hardly be contained (in fifteen volumes)? Sure, that's awfully reductionistic, but no less than Pannenburg's cosmology!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151970356902670982006-07-04T02:45:00.000+03:002006-07-04T02:45:00.000+03:00PannenbergHe is one of the greats. A name synonymo...Pannenberg<BR/><BR/>He is one of the greats. A name synonymous with theology. Balthasar who? For someone supposed to be a great RC theologian how come this contest is the first I've heard of him?One of Freedomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479227411431959461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151959217096413802006-07-03T23:40:00.000+03:002006-07-03T23:40:00.000+03:00Come on people! Pannenberg!! If anyone tries to re...Come on people! Pannenberg!! If anyone tries to read Balthasar in the German, their affection for the man tends to reduce I suspect ...Chris Tillinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03153087287030167791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151955311118052492006-07-03T22:35:00.000+03:002006-07-03T22:35:00.000+03:00Hans Urs von BalthasarBelieve it or not, the Anglo...Hans Urs von Balthasar<BR/><BR/>Believe it or not, the Anglophone world is just now catching on to him. We'll be reading Balthasar for the next century. Where Rahner, Moltmann and Pannenburg have peaked, Balthasar is just hitting his stride. It's his mistrust of modernity's constructs that provides Balthasar's work its enduring quality.Katerina Ivanovnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15565995904031771532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151954939092319752006-07-03T22:28:00.000+03:002006-07-03T22:28:00.000+03:00von BalthasarI cannot say much more than what has ...von Balthasar<BR/><BR/>I cannot say much more than what has already been said. His trilogy is one of the greatest theological works in recent times, second perhaps only to Barth's dogmatics. He brilliantly reverses the classical transcendentals of truth, goodness, and beauty so that theology instead moves from beauty to goodness to truth. And I have to affirm his book, <I>Mysterium Paschale</I>, as one of the most beautiful theological works in the 20th century.David W. Congdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03009330707703611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151949518959223932006-07-03T20:58:00.000+03:002006-07-03T20:58:00.000+03:00von balthasar,really because he was the person tha...von balthasar,<BR/><BR/>really because he was the person that integrated spirituality and systematic theology for me. As a commenter above said, Balthasar is "just so darn stimulating", and almost every major theological thinker since has been both stimulated and influenced by him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151948743959245302006-07-03T20:45:00.000+03:002006-07-03T20:45:00.000+03:00Hans Urs von Balthasar.I'm actually rather shocked...Hans Urs von Balthasar.<BR/><BR/>I'm actually rather shocked to see so many early votes for Pannenberg. I thought this one would be a blow-out.<BR/><BR/><B>Von Balthasar's</B> trilogy on beauty, goodness, and truth, is absolutely breathtaking in both its scope and the depth of insight. His reflections on God's sovereign love and human freedom, so central to his theology, are wonderful (cf. esp. <I>Dare We Hope?</I>). The ground he is able to cover (from the writings of the Church Fathers, to the writings of contemporary philosophers... and pretty much everything in between) is unmatched in 20th century theology. I could probably go on and on about von Balthsar, but maybe some of that should be saved for later rounds.<BR/><BR/>Much of what I like about <B>Pannenberg</B> is simply an extension of what I like about Moltmann. However, Panneberg is a little too "modern" for me. Furthermore, I really do have a chip on my block when it comes to Hegel, and I think there needs to be a greater divide between Hegelian philosophy and Christian theology.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151947045370309622006-07-03T20:17:00.000+03:002006-07-03T20:17:00.000+03:00von Balthasarbloodless...a fair characterization o...von Balthasar<BR/><BR/>bloodless...a fair characterization of Pannenberg indeed Kim!<BR/><BR/>Next to Barth, von Balthasar is the most important theologian of the 2oth century and should win the competition (no other theologian left in the competition comes close to what Balthasar has acheived). In his hands, theology is truly beautiful and a joy to read.Patrick McManushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10717639457555961172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151943092858453492006-07-03T19:11:00.000+03:002006-07-03T19:11:00.000+03:00von BalthasarI wrote 250 words in defence of this ...von Balthasar<BR/><BR/>I wrote 250 words in defence of this choice that disappeared at the press of "word verification" (grrrr!), and I'm not going to rehearse it. Basically it is von Balthasar's appeal as a passionate theologian oozing a caratatic spirituality, compared with Pannenberg's project - Hegelian in scope - which yet strikes me as bloodless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151941658963501932006-07-03T18:47:00.000+03:002006-07-03T18:47:00.000+03:00PannenbergHas to be, along with moltmann, his theo...Pannenberg<BR/><BR/>Has to be, along with moltmann, his theology has been the most important to emerge from germany in the last 20-30 years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151938967215925132006-07-03T18:02:00.000+03:002006-07-03T18:02:00.000+03:00HUvBThis despite my defense of Pannenberg below; b...HUvB<BR/><BR/>This despite my defense of Pannenberg below; but Balthasar is going to be remembered for transforming RCC theology in the C20. And no one has taken up the question of aesthetics and made it viable for theology like him.guanilohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10713030896535359474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151934615678493782006-07-03T16:50:00.000+03:002006-07-03T16:50:00.000+03:00PannenbergPannenberg has been major force in the s...Pannenberg<BR/><BR/>Pannenberg has been major force in the systematic theology playground. His diverse work in such areas as ecumenics and relation of theology/religion and science/modernity has been immense. His methodological considerations in the beginning of his systematic theology are quite thought provoking especially when read together with Jenson's work.<BR/><BR/>So please, for heavens sake, vote for Pannenberg!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151933658834392712006-07-03T16:34:00.000+03:002006-07-03T16:34:00.000+03:00von Balthasar.I think very highly of Pannenberg. ...von Balthasar.<BR/><BR/>I think very highly of Pannenberg. He's a brilliant, erudite, creative theologian, though awfully dry. But von Balthasar is just so darn stimulating.Striderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07859685939890312325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27405843.post-1151931041495961662006-07-03T15:50:00.000+03:002006-07-03T15:50:00.000+03:00von Balthasar.For reasons, see my recent post.von Balthasar.<BR/><BR/>For reasons, see my <A HREF="http://shrinkinguni.blogspot.com/2006/06/is-there-gnostic-tendency-in-modern.html" REL="nofollow">recent post.</A>Patrikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237545786695465374noreply@blogger.com