Talk:Hans Urs von Balthasar

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[edit] Criticism

I removed the following unsourced statements from the page. It would be good to see these placed into a section on criticism that could address these points in a full context.

The orthodoxy of Balthasar’s theories of Christ’s Descent into Hell (which is closer to the Protestant tradition than to Catholicism) and of universal salvation is often questioned. His endorsement of Tarot reading, though less well known, can also alarm previously sympathetic readers.

When/if I get the chance, I'll do it, but until then here's a convenient summary of the conversation:

The Population of Hell, by Avery Cardinal Dulles. First Things May 2003. [Addressing Balthasar's Dare We Hope?]. Will All Be Saved?, Richard J. Neuhaus. First Things 115 (August/September 2001): 77-104. The Inflated Reputation of Hans Urs von Balthasar. New Oxford Review March 2000. Is Hell Closed Up & Boarded Over?, by David Watt. New Oxford Review Feb. 1999. On Hope, Heaven and Hell, by Nick Jr. Healy. The University Concourse, Volume II, Issue 9. May 6, 1997. Von Balthasar and Salvation, by James T. O'Connor. Homiletic & Pastoral Review July 1989.The Population of Hell, by Avery Cardinal Dulles. First Things May 2003. [Addressing Balthasar's Dare We Hope?]. Will All Be Saved?, Richard J. Neuhaus. First Things 115 (August/September 2001): 77-104. The Inflated Reputation of Hans Urs von Balthasar. New Oxford Review March 2000. Is Hell Closed Up & Boarded Over?, by David Watt. New Oxford Review Feb. 1999. On Hope, Heaven and Hell, by Nick Jr. Healy. The University Concourse, Volume II, Issue 9. May 6, 1997. Von Balthasar and Salvation, by James T. O'Connor. Homiletic & Pastoral Review July 1989.

Hyperlinks at Balthasar online archive Freder1ck 03:42, 7 December 2006 (UTC)Freder1ck

I'm pleased to see some sourced criticisms and the reference to Valentin Tomberg added. However, neither Balthasar nor Tomberg endorse Tarot reading. Tomberg's Méditations sûr les 22 arcanes majeurs du Tarot is not a manual for Tarot reading but instead a series of reflections on the depictions of the Marseilles tarot from a Christian, idiosyncratic, and theosophic/ hermetic perspective. Balthasar's defense of Tomberg is quite in line with Henri de Lubac's defense of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Giovanni Pico della Mirandola. In all three cases, it's a matter of lauding the trajectory of the project, but not endorsing every single position of the author in question. In his introduction to Tomberg's [anonymously published] book, Balthasar also makes reference to the writings of Charles Williams (UK writer), whose work brings together both Christianity and Western esotericism. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Freder1ck (talk • contribs) 17:07, 9 December 2006 (UTC).

[edit] More discussion

Some thoughts about the article. I'm wondering if the controversy is being overplayed. Given the fact that Von Balthasar's theology comprises a lot more than the controverted stuff about the descent into Hell - and a lot of it has been received appreciatively by magisterial theologians, eg. the last two Popes - it is probably somewhat misleading to open the discussion with the controversy over the stuff in Mysterium Paschale and Was Durfen Wir Hoffen? It gives the impression that Balthasar's work has been marked by controversy to the same degree as other theologians like Kung or Schillebeeckx. I would suggest using the Trilogy to organize the "Writings" section, beginning by explaining what it is, and continuing by explaining each part and related works. The controversy would obviously need to be stated, but could be introduced when talking about Theo-Drama. There should probably be some links to the First Things articles between Alyssa Pitstick and Fr. Oakes with regard to these issues. Also, the article probably needs to talk about the community of Saint John, seeing as von Balthasar thought this was his life's work.

  - harlomcspears