Barth, Karl 1886-1968
Swiss theologian

He was born in Basle, and studied at Berne, Berlin, T�bingen and Marburg. Whilst pastor at Safenwil, Aargau, he wrote a commentary of St Paul's epistle to the Romans (1919) which established his theological reputation. He became professor at G�ttingen (1921), M�nster (1925) and Bonn (1930), refused to take an unconditional oath to Hitler, was dismissed and became professor at Basle (1935-62). He played a leading role in the German Confessing Church and Barmen Declaration (1934). His theology begins with the realization of human wickedness, the principal sin being man's endeavour to make himself, rather than God, the centre of the world, and re-emphasized God's unquestionable authority and 'otherness'. However Barth was criticized on the grounds that his own reasoned exposition of antiphilosophical theology itself constitutes philosophy and that he prescribed belief in a divinity which failed to explain the nature of humanity. His many works include Knowledge of God and the Service of God (1938) and the monumental Church Dogmatics (1932-67).

Bibliography: J S Bowden, Karl Barth (1971)