SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.64 número1 índice de autoresíndice de materiabúsqueda de artículos
Home Pagelista alfabética de revistas  

Servicios Personalizados

Articulo

Indicadores

Links relacionados

  • En proceso de indezaciónCitado por Google
  • En proceso de indezaciónSimilares en Google

Compartir


HTS Theological Studies

versión On-line ISSN 2072-8050
versión impresa ISSN 0259-9422

Herv. teol. stud. vol.64 no.1 Pretoria mar. 2008

 

BOEKBESPREKINGS / BOOK REVIEWS

 

 

Moltmann, J 2006 – Jürgen Moltmann Eine Lebensgeschichte, herausgegeben von W Raum. Publisher: Gütersloher Verlagshaus. 384 Pages. Price: Unknown

2008 – A broad place: An autobiography, translated by M Kohl
Publisher: Fortress Press. 406 Pages. Price: Unknown

Reviewer: Prof I W C van Wyk (The Africa Institute for Missiology)

It is not often that one receives a book for reviewing that one cannot put down once you have started reading it. The story of the world-famous Jürgen Moltmann’s life is one of those books. It is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. Anyonewho is interested in Moltmann as a theologian and as a human being should read this book. Likewise, those with aninterest in German history, the German academic world, famous German theologians and the ecumenical world should also read it. This autobiography is not only fascinating, but is inspiring too. It serves as motivation for all lesser theologians to aspire to academic excellence.

Moltmann provides the reader with an amazing account with detailed information on his life and work. It is astonishing that someone could keep so much detail stored in files and on computers for so many years. He recalls the names of his childhood neighbours, the children in his catechesis classes and of the people he met all over the world, including those he met during his visit to South Africa. He deals with what happened to him and his family during the War and with their move from Wuppertal to Bonn in detail. He also provides detail about his colleagues, the subjects they lectured and during which semesters they lectured.

The 57 photographs in the book in itself depict a life-story. The pictures tell the story of Moltmann, the world-famous theologian, the church leader, the family man and the friend of thousands around the globe. The pictures put faces to the works of people like Hans Küng, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Ernst Wolff, Eberhard Jüngel, Dorothee Sölle and Moltmann’s wife Elizabeth Moltmann-Wendel. From the photos it is apparent that Moltmann was always very tidy, a well-dressed person who enjoyed the respect of statesmen and church leaders all over the world.

The book is divided into the following divisions: His youth; the first phase of his academic career; the theology of hope; political theology; the Cross and the Trinity as focus areas of his theology; his latter contributions in systematic theology and the new beginning at the end. Each division consists of a few chapters.

People with a variety of interests will find this autobiography of use and very interesting. The two hundred students, who wrote dissertations on his theology, will rue the fact that they did not have access to all these biographical information. Every person who is interested in German theology and the ecumenical world should read this book at least twice. It contains many facts, anecdotes and perspectives that one can share with friends and students. Let me mention a few: Otto Weber played a major role in Moltmann’s life as studyleader, theologian and family friend. He regards his Grundlagen der Dogmatik as one of the most important books in his library. In moments of uncertainty, he would consult Otto Weber, and not Karl Barth. He personally agitated to get Eberhard Jüngel appointed at Tübingen, whilst other very famous theologians opposed the appointment. Despite many theological and political differences between them, Wolfhart Pannenberg remained a very lose friend. Moltmann firmly believed that universities should be left to the academics and maintained that the innovation-mania and ideas about structural improvements of universities by officials from education departments normally do not lead to much. He resisted the “Americanization” of the old German universities and wanted to keep them as places of knowledge, research and publications. At Tübingen his academic duties during the week amounted to lecturing for four hours, two hours of seminars, and two hours of meetings with his twenty doctoral students and of course also included university and faculty meetings.. He is one of the few high-profile theologians who has a working relationship with the medical fraternity.

This book should not only be read by lecturers, but by everyone who has an interest in theology and church life. I can hardly think of a more appropriate way of motivating them to live intellectually and to share in the great tradition of German university theology.

Creative Commons License Todo el contenido de esta revista, excepto dónde está identificado, está bajo una Licencia Creative Commons