Re-Figuring Theology

Stephen H. Webb is Byron K. Trippet Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Wabash College.

• Preface Acknowledgments 1. Reading Karl Barth Rhetoric and TheologyReadings of Karl BarthBarth and ExpressionismA Closer Look at the Expressionist Analogy 2. Toward a Tropology Three Theories of TropesMax Black on MataphorPaul Ricoeur and LanguageRicoeur and MetaphorThe Tropics of Hayden White 3. Metaphor of Crisis/Crisis of Metaphor Metaphors and ModelsThe Origin of CrisisThe Supporting CastThe Indirection of TheologyThe Crisis Defined?The Crisis of History and the History of CrisisThe Crisis of Crisis 4. Magic of the Extreme A Lesser Trope?Nietzsche as ExaggeratorA Necessary ExcessAn Other OthernessA Church DestroyedThe Limits of Extremity 5. Web of Irony The Varieties of IronyThe Ironology of KierkegaardThe Irony of TheologyAn Ironic GodAn Unstable Corrective 6. Retreat and Reconstruction: Re-Reading Barth Today Retreat from RhetoricAnother OtherToward a Reconstruction Notes Index

"The status of rhetoric in relation to conceptual thought has been an important issue since the 13th century. With the advent of deconstructionism, it has become more urgent to sort out the implications of the different positions taken on this issue."The theology of Karl Barth is a strategic test case for exploring this issue, both because he is a central figure in twentieth century theology and because of the radicality of his challenge. The author has illuminated Barth's theology by his astute rhetorical analysis and, reciprocally, the status of rhetoric by a thorough investigation of Barth's texts." — Mary Gerhart, Hobart & William Smith Colleges"The approach developed in this book is deeply appropriate both to the early Barth and to the present conversation among theologians. It promises to vitalize academic theology, a field that without such recurrent infusions can become repetitive and pompous." — David B. Greene, North Carolina State University