Welcome To Barth

An introduction to the surprising theology of Karl Barth

For many of us the name Karl Barth raises images of lofty theological speculation churning away in the ivory towers of academia far from the gritty realities of life.

The prolific body of his work and the critical engagement he has attracted both during his life and since make it hard to know where to start to engage.

On the 11th we’ll try to look at the main themes of his work and decode the mind of this flawed genius. We’ll look at how he challenged Reformed thinking, how he challenged liberal theology, how he inspired many including Dietrich Bonhoeffer and a Pope who called him 'the greatest theologian of the 20th century'.

We’ll look at how he opposed German militarism in the First World War and championed the ‘Barman Declaration’ opposing Nazism in 1934 . We might even be able to look at how he presented a Biblically rooted Christological theology which looked past modernity. Perhaps most of all we'll see how he placed Jesus Christ at the heart of all he wrote.

This session will be lead by an unqualified amateur

As usual this REACH Forum will include refreshments and interactive sessions.