Faith and Understanding

by Rudolf Karl Bultmann, Louise Pettibone Smith (Translator), Robert W. Funk (Editor)

Paperback. Previous owner's blind stamp on half title and title page. Slight wear on outer edge of text. Otherwise VG

Genres: Theology

348 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Rudolf Karl Bultmann (August 20, 1884, Wiefelstede – July 30, 1976, Marburg) was a German Lutheran theologian and professor of New Testament at the University of Marburg. He was one of the major figures of early 20th century biblical studies and a prominent voice in liberal Christianity.

Bultmann is known for his belief that the historical analysis of the New Testament is both futile and unnecessary, given that the earliest Christian literature showed little interest in specific locations.] Bultmann argued that all that matters is the "thatness", not the "whatness" of Jesus, i.e. only that Jesus existed, preached and died by crucifixion matters, not what happened throughout his life.

Bultmann relied on demythologization, an approach interpreting the mythological elements in the New Testament existentially. Bultmann contended that only faith in the kerygma, or proclamation, of the New Testament was necessary for Christian faith, not any particular facts regarding the historical Jesus.

Reviews

[Lauren Larkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A telling compilation of essays. I found them eventually redundant in insight but not that that insight isn't good or challenging. By the end of the text, I felt like I had read a bunch of the same essay pressing in on the same points of the necessity of the project of demythology. Also, as one who lives here and now, the language Bultmann uses to impress his points becomes overbearing at points. Of course, his analyses of other texts and the way he astutely exposes errors of logic and coherence of argument and how texts and ideologies can go awry perpetuating false assumptions and expectations of Christian doctrine (the mythologically bound doctrine) is of importance and gives one a good exposure to the revolutionary work of this group of liberal theologians working from a fractured foundation.

[Derick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it