The Mystery of God: Karl Barth and the Postmodern Foundations of Theology (Columbia Series in Reformed Theology)

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Summary: The postmodern promise of Karl Barth
Review: Johnson challenges the static 'neo-orthodox' image of Karl Barth, bringing him into conversation with postmodern thought, especially that of Jacques Derrida. He picks up on the Barth's idea of God as mystery and of Barth's image of the empty space of the wheel at which the spokes of theology's questions converge and finds in these a point of contact for dialogue with poststructural thought. Weighed against Barth's Christocentrism (the center of the wheel) is Barth's theocentrism (God as mystery); as Barth had said, God is veiled in His revelation and vice versa. Johnson takes a refreshing and promising approach which is a fine contribution to a larger discussion taking place between Barth's theology and postmodern thought.