This book is an undergraduate introduction to one of the most important works of 20th century Catholic theology. Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) is one of the most significant and challenging of 20th century theologians. His work remains highly influential within the Catholic Church; yet much of it is influenced by his encounter with and study of the great Protestant theologian Karl Barth. His writings, particularly the trilogy beginning with "The Glory of the Lord", then the "Theo-Drama" and concluding with the "Theo-Logic", are both hugely influential and yet not always easy to approach, not least because of their sheer size and scale (comprising some 15 volumes written over nearly 30 years). This guide will set the context for his great trilogy and identify some of the key themes and influence upon it, showing how his reworking of theology around the transcendentals of being, the beautiful, the good and the true, is influenced not just by classical philosophy and theology but also by his involvement with contemporary figures such as Erich Przywara, Karl Barth, and Adrienne von Speyr. "Continuum Reader's Guides" are clear, concise, and accessible introductions to key texts in literature and philosophy. Each book explores the themes, context, criticism, and influence of key works, providing a practical introduction to close reading, guiding students towards a thorough understanding of the text. They provide an essential, up-to-date resource, ideal for undergraduate students.

An undergraduate introduction to one of the most important works of 20th century Catholic theology.

About the Author
Revd. Dr. Stephen Wigley, MA (Oxon), MPhil and PhD (Birmingham) is Co-Chair of the Wales Synod of the Methodist Church. He is also a visiting lecturer and Trustee of St. Michael's College Llandaff, a member of the Epworth Review editorial Panel, and former member of the Methodist Faith & Order Committee.

Reviews
Here we have an excellent introduction to one of the most significant intellectual achievements of the twentieth century, namely Hans-Urs von Balthasar's trilogy on the transcendentals of being: beauty, goodness and truth. In that massive work the Swiss Catholic theologian unfolded the themes of God's glory and its appearance, God's dramatic history with the world and human participation in it, God's cosmic design and the ways of its revelation and human discovery. Now at three interlocking levels -- that of the present book itself, that of its subject's writings, and that of the range of philosophers, theologians and artists whom von Balthasar attended to -- readers will find themselves drawn into engagement with the true, the good, and the beautiful. -- Geoffrey Wainwright, Robert Earl Cushman Professor of Christian Theology, Duke Divinity School, Durham, USA.
Readers struggling with the daunting task of getting to grips with Hans Urs von Balthasar's vast and sometimes rather amorphous oeuvre will welcome this wonderfully brief and clear map of his Trilogy. Stephen Wigley sets Balthasar's magnum opus in context, offers an analysis of the key influences on it, and even guides us through the growing thicket of secondary literature surrounding it, but above all he lays out a concise, sympathetic summary of the Trilogy, something which is to be found nowhere else in a single volume. -- Karen Kilby, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Nottingham, UK.



Book Information
ISBN 9780567034175
Author Revd Dr Stephen Wigley
Format Paperback
Page Count 184
Imprint T.& T.Clark Ltd
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 284g