Karl Barth and the Question of Atheism

Abstract

In light of the contemporary growth of atheism in the West, this article examines Karl Barth’s response to the atheism of the modern period with an eye towards understanding how Barth’s idiosyncratic engagement with modern atheism might prove to be a helpful resource for the church of today in providing its own response. Barth’s engagement with atheism is discussed in light of his understanding of christology, election, sin, and ecclesiology, as well as with an appreciation for the significance of his conducting this engagement from within the realm of dogmatic theology rather than in the area of philosophical theology or the philosophy of religion where atheism is most often addressed.