Hans Küng (1928–2021)

I bought this book to fill some gaps in my knowledge of church history. It did the trick!

Küng’s a loyal rebel in the church, which endeared him to me immediately. He reminded me of Charles Wesley, calling for Anglican reform from within. This book is not only a compelling look at the history of the church, it talks about contemporary church issues as well. Küng’s call for reform in the spirit of Vatican II is visionary.

If you’ve ever wondered about the doctrine of Papal show more infallibility, or the discipline of celibacy for priests, this book is for you.

It was four nights of reading well spent! show less

An entry in a series of short books on historical themes, the Modern Library Chronicles Series. This book is a bit polemical, since Hans Kung was a theological advisor to the Second Vatican Council, and disapproves of the central authority of the Popes. He spends much of the history discussing the lack of basis the Roman Pope has for infallibility, and the lack of biblical basis for such staunch strictures as celibacy for clergy and the anti-contraception stance of the church. It is part of show more my rediscovery of the Church, brought about by the forced church attendance once a week. I am considering Pascal's wager, and his dictum that faith will follow form. Kung has some very amusing stories about Papal misdeeds in the past, and some very rapid syntheses of major events such as the reformation and the schism with Byzantium. show less

Hard going, maybe because it's in translation.
Nevertheless a revelation of fresh thinking. A call to critical thinking about what you mean when you say you're Christian.

Honest effort by a liberal theologian to answer the question 'Does God exist' in the affirmative. When I was ~20 I found it useful to reconcile my skepticism with my church activism. That is not possible anymore. Reading it now, I find its premises highly questionable and unsatisfactory. Incidentally, Kung was removed from teaching Catholic theology at the university for some of his liberal activities that didn't play well with Ratzinger (now the pope).