Needfulness and the Knowledge of God in Barth’s Dogmatics

What is it about?

This article explains an aspect of Karl Barth's epistemology, that is, his understanding of how humans can know anything about God. It shows how Barth posits a positive "needfulness" that every creature should feel toward God, which however is denied by the sinful creature, who is then left to a drastic and unresolved reality of "neediness." As Christ in his death and resurrection resolves the problem of sin, the redeemed creature may finally discover the joy of "needfulness" and begin to love and know God.

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