God is not 'power in itself'.... when Hitler used to speak about God, he called him `the Almighty.' But it is not 'the Almighty' who is God; we cannot understand from the standpoint of a supreme concept of power who God is.... God's power is from the start the power of law.... God's power is holy, righteous, merciful, patient, kindly power.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Hitler's mistaken theology
Just after World War II, Karl Barth gave a series of lectures in the bombed out remains of Bonn University. These were later published as Dogmatics in Outline. He gives a beautiful and profound exposition of each phrase of the Apostle's Creed. Chapter 7 is "God Almighty". Here are a few extracts:
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Moltmann has an interesting take on the heresy that arises from equating God with power. He argues that the imago dei becomes nothing more than despotism...dominance over the created world! I imagine Barth at the remains of Bonn...wow, what a sight!
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