Karl Barth is one of the most influential theologians of the past century, especially within conservative branches of Christianity. Liberals, by contrast, find many of his ideas to be problematic. In this study, Keith Ward offers a detailed critique of Barth's views on religion and revelation as articulated in Church Dogmatics. Against Barth's definition of  religions as self-centred, wilful, and arbitrary human constructions, Ward offers a defence of world religions as a God-inspired search for and insight into spiritual truth. Questioning Barth's rejection of natural theology and metaphysics, he provides a defence of the necessity of a philosophical foundation for Christian faith. Ward also dismisses Barth's biased summaries of German liberal thought, upholding a theological liberalism that incorporates Enlightenment ideas of critical inquiry and universal human rights that also retains beliefs that are central to Christianity. Ward defends the universality of divine grace against Barth's apparent denial of it to non-Christian religions.

‘The text itself is very well written and provides insight into Ward’s own Anglican theology in tension with Barth’s Evangelical Protestant theology. While not written for Barth scholars, this text would provide a useful counterpoint to Barth in a course on 20th-century Christian theology. It would also be valuable for Christian pastors to think carefully about religion, revelation, and justification as they are presented to congregations … Recommended.’

V. M. Ehret Source: Choice

‘Ward does a commendable job arguing for the validity of religious practices as genuine expressions of worship. His critique of Barth’s assertions is fair … This book will be of the greatest benefit to readers who have extensive familiarity with Barth’s work, but even those who are less well acquainted with Barth will find value in Ward’s arguments.’

William Chandler Source: Reading Religion