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reubs_w's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Genuinely one of the best books I’ve ever read.
dbg108's review against another edition
1.0
I do not wish to be uncharitable towards former generations' attempts to name the divine. However, this book is representative of an approach to faith that is rooted in insecure and un-self-aware power dynamics. Religious people would do well to altogether abandon Barth's approach to faith and theology and to happily admit that 1) we have no idea what is True and 2) that our faith is important to us because we are vulnerable humans and need to believe in something larger than ourselves so that we feel okay. And now I'm going to have some tea and lemon cake.
christopherchandler's review against another edition
5.0
A dense read, but so worth the effort! This was my introduction to Barth and I found it encouraging and challenging. His Christology is the highlight of the book for me. I think I'll be returning to this book again and again to have my imagination of different key Christian beliefs challenged.
jamesbesaw's review against another edition
2.0
I’m giving this two stars for now. I may return to this in time. It could be that I didn’t understand it well... it could be the stage of life I’m in right now... but after reading this I felt as though Barth could have turned this 147 page book into a 14 page essay.
davehershey's review against another edition
5.0
This is a classic work by one of the great theologians of the 20th century. Well, the "classic" work is the Dogmatics but honestly, who has time to read that monster? Professional theologians maybe? What Barth offers here is a densely packed journey through the Apostles creed. It is dense - I found myself wanting to underline so much it may have been easier to underline the stuff I didn't find as intriguing. As I read, I was reminded of the importance of allowing God to define who God is through revelation, rather than our vain attempts at reaching God through our own minds. Further, as Barth emphasized the complete otherness of God, I was reminded how amazing the incarnation actually is.
Most of all, it was jarring to read this book during the rise of Trump, with so many Christians in America seemingly exchanging the morals they've expected in leaders (at least, that's what I've been hearing for my entire life) for a guy they think can win. Why worry about being like Jesus, or even allowing Jesus to be front and center when we speak about God when we've got elections to win? Barth lived through the Nazi era and makes reference to Hitler and the sell-out "German Christians" at times. I do not think a Hitler is rising in America by any means. Yet the theme of a country that sees itself as Christian but seems to care little for the God revealed in Jesus, or to put it another way, the temptation to put nation above God, shows up often in history. We may be living through one such time.
For that, and simply for the fact Barth is fantastic, any and all pastors and Christians could benefit from this book.
Most of all, it was jarring to read this book during the rise of Trump, with so many Christians in America seemingly exchanging the morals they've expected in leaders (at least, that's what I've been hearing for my entire life) for a guy they think can win. Why worry about being like Jesus, or even allowing Jesus to be front and center when we speak about God when we've got elections to win? Barth lived through the Nazi era and makes reference to Hitler and the sell-out "German Christians" at times. I do not think a Hitler is rising in America by any means. Yet the theme of a country that sees itself as Christian but seems to care little for the God revealed in Jesus, or to put it another way, the temptation to put nation above God, shows up often in history. We may be living through one such time.
For that, and simply for the fact Barth is fantastic, any and all pastors and Christians could benefit from this book.
scottacorbin's review against another edition
4.0
Read very slowly over many months. A wonderful little intro to Barth's theology by way of an exposition of the Apostles Creed. Some parts profound and beautiful; others a little esoteric and hard to follow. Regardless, a great little book.
caffeinated_bookaholic's review against another edition
5.0
A very clear but constantly surprising book, worthy of a slower read to mull over the ideas. I love his concepts of the radical Otherness of God and the Christo-centrism of dogmatics especially; as well as the method of starting with revelation and not natural reason, because we have no way to know how to evaluate the world's reality on its own terms, but only on God's.
jacobgane8's review against another edition
5.0
“If you have heard the Easter message, you can no longer run around with a tragic face and lead the humourless existence of a man who has no hope. One thing still holds, and only this one thing is really serious, that Jesus is the Victor” (p. 123).