An Impossible Possibility? Jewish Barthianism in Interwar Germany

In this essay I examine the Jewish reception of Karl Barth's theology in Germany of the 1930s. This I do through an analysis of a disputed exploration into the possibilities and limitations of the theological principles of dialectical theology for the formulation of a Jewish theology that took...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Herskowitz, Daniel M. 1987- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell [2017]
In: Modern theology
Year: 2017, Volume: 33, Issue: 3, Pages: 348-368
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Barth, Karl 1886-1968 / Reception / Wiener, Max 1882-1950 / Schoeps, Hans-Joachim 1909-1980 / Altmann, Alexander 1906-1987 / Judaism / Liberal theology / Dialectical theology / History 1918-1933
IxTheo Classification:BH Judaism
FA Theology
KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history
KDD Protestant Church
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Summary:In this essay I examine the Jewish reception of Karl Barth's theology in Germany of the 1930s. This I do through an analysis of a disputed exploration into the possibilities and limitations of the theological principles of dialectical theology for the formulation of a Jewish theology that took place at the time. The publication of Karl Barth's Römerbrief (1919, 1922) generated a great stir among Christian circles in Germany. Profoundly challenging the fundamental assumptions of liberal theology, Barth's 'dialectical theology' was quickly recognized as an epoch-making work. But the impact of Barth's theology exceeded its Christian readership. As a corresponding disillusionment of liberal theology in its Jewish version took place among Jews, Barthianism presented itself as a compelling theological model offering a profound rejoinder to the spiritual needs of Jews as well. Yet alongside the recognition of the potentially constructive engagement with Barth's radical thought for a rejuvenated articulation of Jewish theology, Jewish thinkers similarly acknowledged the many challenges and difficulties such a theological encounter implied from a Jewish point of view, thereby projecting their understanding of the Jewish-Christian difference.
ISSN:1468-0025
Contains:Enthalten in: Modern theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/moth.12331