Hans Urs Von Balthasar and Protestantism

Rodney A. Howsare is Associate Professor of Fundamental Theology, DeSales University, Center Valley, Pennsylvania, USA.

• Chapter One: Ecumenical Dialogue: Fundamental Considerations; A. The Root of the Contemporary Problem; B. Historical Excursus: Aquinas and Kant on Faith and Reason; C. Toward a Philosophy of Dialogue; D. Historical Excursus: The Transcendental Properties of Being; E. Theological Aesthetics and Dialogue; Chapter Two: Ecumenical Dialogue: Theological Considerations; A. Difficulties with Official Ecumenism; B. Ecclesiology and Dialogue; C. The Nature of Theology and Dialogue; D. Einfaltungen; E. Conclusion; Chapter Three: Balthasar on Luther's Theologia Crucis; A. Introduction; B. Nominalism and Luther; C. Luther's New Approach to Theology; D. Luther's Theology of the Cross; E. The Righteousness of God; F. Balthasar and Luther; G. Balthasar on Luther's Soteriology; H. Balthasar on Luther's Fundamental Theology; I. Evaluation and Conclusion; Chapter Four: Barth and the Analogia Entis; A. Introduction; B. The Analogy of Being; C. Barth's Early Theology; D. Balthasar's Barth; E. Balthasar's Critique; F. Implications and Conclusion; Chapter Five: The Cosmological and Anthropological Alternatives; A. Introduction; B. Summary of Luther's and Barth's Contributions; C. The Third Way: Love Alone; D. The Cosmological Approach; E. The Anthropological Approach; F. Balthasar's Critique of Rahner; G. Summary and Conclusion; Chapter Six: Balthasar's Ecumenical Style: Cases in Point; A. Introduction; B. The Cross and the Trinity; C. Nature and Grace; D. Christian Philosophy? E. Ecclesiology and the Hegemony of the Secular; F. Dramatic Soteriology; Conclusion; A. Summary; B. Final Questions; Index

"This study is a welcome addition to the growing library of books on von Balthasar."   "in setting out so clearly and systematically the ecumenical origins and influences upon his theology, Howsare's book makes a notable contribution to the interpretation of von Balthasar and his wider reception across the ecumenical scene."