The Affirmations of Reason

This book examines the speculative core of Karl Barth's theology, reconsidering the relationship between theory and practice in Barth's thinking. A consequence of this reconsideration is the recognition that Barth's own account of his theological development is largely correct. Sigurd Baark draws heavily on the philosophical tradition of German Idealism, arguing that an important part of what makes Barth a speculative theologian is the way his thinking is informed by the nexus of self-consciousness, reason and, freedom, which was most fully developed by Kant, Fichte, and Hegel. The book provides a new interpretation of Barth's theology, and shows how a speculative understanding of theology is useful in today's intellectual climate.

Offers a complete reinterpretation of Karl Barth's theology Breathes new life into the tradition of "Speculative Theology" Presents theology as a thoroughly rational praxis, and engages current issues in epistemology

Autorentext
Sigurd Baark is an assistant pastor at the German Reformed Church of Copenhagen, as well as an associate research fellow at the Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Inhalt
Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: The Speculative Aspect.- Chapter 3: Kant's Critical Philosophy.- Chapter 4: Fichte and Hegel on Knowledge and Self-consciousness.- Chapter 5: The Early Dialectical Theology of Barth and Thurneysen.- Chapter 6: The Form of Barth's Speculative Theology.- Chapter 7: Barth's Speculative Theology and the Kirchliche Dogmatik.- Chapter 8: Conclusion.