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4 - The Nature of Revelation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2024

Keith Ward
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
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Summary

Ninian Smart’s seven dimensions of religion, of which truth is only one. There are alleged truths in religion, but it is misleading to say that religions can be true.

Most religions have some idea of revelation or authoritative teaching, but they are very different.

Barth’s view of revelation as God-given, certain, and absolutely authoritative. But revelation is a complex process, involving experience, interpretation, and debate.

Revelation comes to few, is expressed in diverse cultural forms, and is always disputable and disputed.

The Old Testament is part of Christian revelation, but has given rise to different religions and sects.

Barth sees the Hebrew Bible as an incomplete revelation, which was later rejected.

Diverse Interpretations of revelation show that human speculation and reasoning is involved.

The idea of sublimation is not helpful in explaining the alleged difference between religion and revelation.

Type
Chapter
Information
Karl Barth on Religion
A Critique
, pp. 61 - 76
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • The Nature of Revelation
  • Keith Ward, University of Oxford
  • Book: Karl Barth on Religion
  • Online publication: 14 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009555456.004
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  • The Nature of Revelation
  • Keith Ward, University of Oxford
  • Book: Karl Barth on Religion
  • Online publication: 14 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009555456.004
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The Nature of Revelation
  • Keith Ward, University of Oxford
  • Book: Karl Barth on Religion
  • Online publication: 14 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009555456.004
Available formats
×