Karen Kilby

Julian of Norwich presents one of the most positive and joyful visions of God’s love, kindness, courtesy and mercy in the whole of the Christian tradition, but alongside this there is in her writings a deep concern over sin and what seems like a positive valuation of suffering (she prays to be visited with a mortal illness and to experience Christ’s passion, for instance). How does all this fit together? Is there anything we can learn from her about the relationship of love to suffering?

Hans Urs von Balthasar, a Swiss-German catholic theologian of contemporary stature, has gained popularity in some circles. He is erudite; a prolific writer but appears to lack a specific methodology in his approach to theological questions to the point of over-reaching in his conclusions. Professor Kilby points out that he can be read to attain insight but one needs to approach his writings with caution. His dramatic approach tends to muddy doctrinal orthodoxy because he is trying to extend show more his theological horizons beyond traditional boundaries. Nonetheless, Kilby’s book is good to have on hand when wandering in the great dramatic theological landscape of Balthasar. show less

Talk focuses on 'Encounters with Silence' a short, simply written and very profound book. A series of prayers which Rahner published early in his career, it contains nearly all the significant themes of his subsequent theology. At its heart lies the question of how it can be possible to address God, to address the absolute mystery who can never be imagined as one item amongst others in our world.