What is dialectical theology?

Answer

Dialectical theology, foundational to the theological system known as neo-orthodoxy, posits that God is unknowable to human beings outside of His grace and direct revelation. According to dialectical theology, all attempts to comprehend God through human reason are thwarted by insurmountable contradictions; therefore, reason must yield to faith. Dialectical theologians emphasize God’s transcendence rather than seeking to define God in human terms. The term dialectic refers to the logical debate of ideas through opposing forces, such as employing paradox to elucidate an abstract concept.

A German pastor named Karl Barth is recognized for introducing dialectical theology in his work Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, which was published in 1919. Concerned about the liberal trajectory of the church after the First World War, Barth immersed himself in Scripture and underscored humanity’s sinful condition under God’s judgment. His juxtaposition of God’s holiness versus man’s depravity also led to his concepts being labeled as “the theology of crisis” or “crisis theology”—the crisis denoting the peril the world faced due to God’s imminent judgment.

Reflecting some of the theological themes of the Reformation, dialectical theology establishes a distinction between “religion” and “faith.” Religion, as per dialectical theology, is a product of human intellect and adherence to formalities and rituals. Conversely, faith arises from unexpected and extraordinary encounters with the transcendent God. Employing the paradoxical style characteristic of dialectical theology, Barth stated that God is the “utterly unobjectifiable source of the crisis of all objectivity, the judge, and the nonbeing of the world” (Der Romerbrief, p. 57).

In opposition to dialectical theology is natural theology, which asserts that knowledge of God can be acquired through observing nature and rational thinking. Barth dismissed natural theolog

Yet, viewing it as leading to religious syncretism.

Despite liberal scholars rejecting his message and many conservatives believing Barth carried his ideas to unnecessary extremes, Barth’s dialectical theology transformed Protestant thought and contributed to Barth’s reputation as one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century.