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Bultmann Unlocked
The unique character of Rudolf Bultmann's thought has been missed by many traditional studies that cast him in exegetical or hermeneutic frameworks. His methods of source criticism and his concept of 'demythologizing'have led some to reject his thought in toto, otherstolabel him as a subjectivist. Tim Labron steps out of such traditional studies by reading Bultmann as a unique scholar and leading to the keys that unlockthe distinct character of Bultmann's thought, namely, John 1,14 and the principle of justification by faith.Bultmann uses them in aparallel function - to burn the traditional subject-object hierarchies and self-made foundationsto the ground. Labron shows the implications this hadfor theology, religious studies and philosophy.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 20, 2023
Tim Labron (Bultmann Unlocked, 2011) interprets Lutheran theologian Rudolf Bultmann in terms of post-structuralism, Derrida, Wittgenstein, Gerhard O. Forde, and a few other abstruse authors. The author takes exception to Cartesianism, i.e., the view that we can find objective truth (existing independently of the subject) only with the aid of the rationalizing intellect. (As usual, Plato is misrepresented as a rationalist.) But to attack Cartesianism is like kicking in an open door. Of course, there are still rationalists around, but not among the intelligent people.
Bultmann says that “Jesus’ life on earth does not become an item of the historical past, but constantly remains present reality” (p. 19). Yes, but this is what Christians have always said, i.e., that Jesus is present through the Holy Spirit. So what does Bultmann say that is new? He centers his theology on “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). The Word did not become myth but material reality, and thus we must reveal the Word by ‘demythologization’. Bultmann argues that “myth indeed talks about a reality, but in an inadequate way” (New Testament and Mythology, p. 155). Thus, he explains that “John demythologizes the anti-Christ from a mythological figure to false teachers” (p. 34). In fact, “false teacher” is the original and quite mundane meaning of the word. So John didn’t demythologize it. The Antichrist was only later juiced up to mythic proportions. This is how the religious mind works, or else we wouldn’t have religion.
Indeed, religious images ought to be interpreted; but this is a job for intellectuals, and only intellectuals will be interested in the results. The notion that we can replace mythology with interpretations according to hermeneutic method is nothing short of silly. The impression I get from this short but informative book is that Bultmann wasn’t a very intelligent person. The author defends Bultmann’s inferior theology. In my view, a responsible intellectual ought to expose obvious weaknesses in his subject matter. The book is only worth three stars.
Bultmann says that “Jesus’ life on earth does not become an item of the historical past, but constantly remains present reality” (p. 19). Yes, but this is what Christians have always said, i.e., that Jesus is present through the Holy Spirit. So what does Bultmann say that is new? He centers his theology on “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). The Word did not become myth but material reality, and thus we must reveal the Word by ‘demythologization’. Bultmann argues that “myth indeed talks about a reality, but in an inadequate way” (New Testament and Mythology, p. 155). Thus, he explains that “John demythologizes the anti-Christ from a mythological figure to false teachers” (p. 34). In fact, “false teacher” is the original and quite mundane meaning of the word. So John didn’t demythologize it. The Antichrist was only later juiced up to mythic proportions. This is how the religious mind works, or else we wouldn’t have religion.
Indeed, religious images ought to be interpreted; but this is a job for intellectuals, and only intellectuals will be interested in the results. The notion that we can replace mythology with interpretations according to hermeneutic method is nothing short of silly. The impression I get from this short but informative book is that Bultmann wasn’t a very intelligent person. The author defends Bultmann’s inferior theology. In my view, a responsible intellectual ought to expose obvious weaknesses in his subject matter. The book is only worth three stars.
January 3, 2013
I wrote my undergrad thesis on Bultmann's theology and the controversy it produced and I find myself wishing this book existed when I was writing my thesis because it articulated exactly what I was trying to express about the significance of Bultmann's work. I think the interpretation of Bultmann is spot on in that Labron presents Bultmann as articulating a hermeneutical problem unique to the cultural situation of modernity which issues new challenges for Christian proclamation. Bultmann's demythologization hermeneutic flows out of Bultmann's Christological convictions about the Gospel of John ("the Word made flesh") but also from the radical application of the Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith to epistemology. I think when you begin from where Labron does Bultmann's writings make a lot more sense than if you read him under some bogus labels like "liberal" or "existentialist" (whatever those terms mean).
Labron later reads Bultmann with Derrida and Wittgenstein, two voices I am not as familiar with, but, from what I can grasp, Labron is trying to argue that Bultmann's theology is a rejection of Cartesian foundationalist epistemology (an objection his critics have leveled against him) and that it is Bultmann's critics who have fallen into Cartesianism. Later there is a section comparing Bultmann's demythologization with Derrida's deconstruction but because I have not read much Derrida I don't feel comfortable commenting on that section.
The final picture we get of Bultmann is someone who demands that we enter into the church and its practices, being addressed by the proclaimed Word, for it is by the church that we come to know Christ, to look elsewhere is to find justification in some metaphysical law to fulfill outside of Christ or to deny transcendence and reject law altogether. One is left with two sides of the same coin of modern philosophy: prideful certainty or nihilism. Labron also provides some insights for what Bultmann's theology of "negation" looks like for religious studies.
While it may be a short work (119+11 pgs), "Bultmann Unlocked" is a tough read that may require a little more than an afternoon skim. While Bultmann didn't produce a massive body of work like that of a Barth, Tillich, or Bonhoeffer, I think he offers fresh resources for navigating the theological scene and Labron helped to redeem Bultmann from the theologians who disavowed him as a liberal-existentialist who tried to make Christian faith easy. Hardly so. It's a great work. Highly recommended!
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For a more critical review of Labron's work check out Robert W. Yarbrough's review at http://thegospelcoalition.org/themeli....
Labron later reads Bultmann with Derrida and Wittgenstein, two voices I am not as familiar with, but, from what I can grasp, Labron is trying to argue that Bultmann's theology is a rejection of Cartesian foundationalist epistemology (an objection his critics have leveled against him) and that it is Bultmann's critics who have fallen into Cartesianism. Later there is a section comparing Bultmann's demythologization with Derrida's deconstruction but because I have not read much Derrida I don't feel comfortable commenting on that section.
The final picture we get of Bultmann is someone who demands that we enter into the church and its practices, being addressed by the proclaimed Word, for it is by the church that we come to know Christ, to look elsewhere is to find justification in some metaphysical law to fulfill outside of Christ or to deny transcendence and reject law altogether. One is left with two sides of the same coin of modern philosophy: prideful certainty or nihilism. Labron also provides some insights for what Bultmann's theology of "negation" looks like for religious studies.
While it may be a short work (119+11 pgs), "Bultmann Unlocked" is a tough read that may require a little more than an afternoon skim. While Bultmann didn't produce a massive body of work like that of a Barth, Tillich, or Bonhoeffer, I think he offers fresh resources for navigating the theological scene and Labron helped to redeem Bultmann from the theologians who disavowed him as a liberal-existentialist who tried to make Christian faith easy. Hardly so. It's a great work. Highly recommended!
---
For a more critical review of Labron's work check out Robert W. Yarbrough's review at http://thegospelcoalition.org/themeli....
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews