What is it about?
This article is about the views of Swiss Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) on nationalism. It shows how his theology of history replaces the importance of the nation-state. Instead, Balthasar emphasizes the roles of Christ, the individual, humanity as a whole, and the church in history.
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Why is it important?
Balthasar was one of the major Catholic theologians of the 20th century. He has typically been understood as a conservative thinker, which is true in some ways. Because he is often anti-modern, his critique of nationalism is surprisingly critical of the sort of group identity that more conservative theologians have sometimes promoted. Even some of Balthasar's German-speaking acquaintances promoted such nationalist theologies during the Nazi era.
Perspectives
After reading a good deal of Balthasar's writings, I had been startled by a critical reference to nationalism in his work. Upon further research, I found that this critique was present in many of his works. This aspect of his thought seemed important in light of Paul Silas Peterson's evaluation of anti-modern and anti-Semitic tendencies in Balthasar's early works. I find that Balthasar's later work cuts against both of these tendencies.
Stephen Waldron
Gordon College
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This page is a summary of: Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Theological Critique of Nationalism, Political Theology, September 2014, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1179/1462317x14z.00000000086.
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