Towards a Theology of Relationship: Emil Brunner's Truth as Encounter in Light of Relationship Science

by Michael Berra

Overview

We live in an era in which relations are considered to be of the utmost importance in almost every field of science and society. For theology, however, this is nothing new. Having a personal relationship with God is a common Christian expression, and while this notion of relationship with God usually lacks a clear definition and its explication is often deeply flawed, this book argues nevertheless for the centrality of a theology of relationship. By reintroducing Emil Brunner as a relational theologian, based on his seminal work Truth as Encounter, it is boldly proposed that relationship must be the prime leitmotif for the whole of theology. Furthermore, the relationship analogy is investigated in light of contemporary relationship science: is it accurate to speak of a relationship with God? Berra argues that God-human interaction is indeed categorically a relationship and existentially intended to be intimate. Consequently, this relationship needs to be the theological leitmotif leading to a theology of relationship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666797350
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	08/11/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	266
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Michael Berra is a pastor-theologian currently serving at a large church (Prisma) in Switzerland and leading its school of ministry. He was previously the national youth director of the Evangelical Free Churches in Switzerland.
Michael Berra is a pastor-theologian currently serving at a large church (Prisma) in Switzerland and leading its school of ministry. He was previously the national youth director of the Evangelical Free Churches in Switzerland. He owns a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from London School of Theology and his research as well as his passion revolves around a "theology of relationship".

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements and Encounters along the Way Abbreviations Introduction I: Truth as Encounter: Emil Brunner, the Relationship Theologian 1. Relationship: Emil Brunner's Leitmotif 2. Why Building on Emil Brunner? II: Personal Correspondence: Emil Brunner's Leitmotif 3. Personal Correspondence: Preliminary 4. Personal Correspondence as Ontic Basis 5. God-Towards-Human: The Call to Restoration of Personal Correspondence 6. Human-Towards-God: The Answer to Restoration of Personal Correspondence III: The Analogy of Relationship: Personal Correspondence in Light of Relationship Science 7. Analogy of Relationship: Preliminary Considerations 8. Comparing Human and God-Human Relationships IV: Towards a Theology of Relationship 9. The Analogical Argument 10. Outlook: Ten Propositions Expanding Emil Brunner's Leitmotif of Epilogue Appendix: A Brief Introduction to the Major Frameworks of Relationship Science Bibliography

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“The great Emil Brunner is mentioned today often only in discussion as an anecdote or side tangent. Yet his theology of relationship is powerful, complex, and more relevant today than ever. Michael Berra reintroduces Brunner and the category of relationship as theology’s leitmotif, while critically assessing relationality in light of contemporary research. Using analogical reasoning, Berra provides a theological framework of relational depth and breadth. This book was a joy to read!”

—Thomas Jay Oord, author of Pluriform Love



“Discursive theology needs a philosophy that translates the biblical witness convincingly and boldly. How do we understand God and the world? Twentieth-century systematic theology responds with a relational ontology. From this, Michael Berra goes further and deeper. Drawing on Emil Brunner’s groundbreaking ‘theology of relationship,’ he points to ways of reconstructing our habits of thought. It is worthwhile to follow him there.”

—Ralph Kunz, University of Zürich



“Christian theology, at its best, is a dynamic endeavor that attends to a rich heritage and responds to the contemporary context. This volume contributes well to that task. With precision and confidence, Berra juxtaposes Christian doctrine and relationship science to argue for a singular theme around which all of theology should turn: relationship. Readers will benefit from his careful analysis of Brunner’s work and its enduring relevance for Christian thinking and living today.”

—Cynthia Bennett Brown, author of Believing Thinking, Bounded Theology: The Theological Methodology of Emil Brunner

Editorial Reviews

"The great Emil Brunner is mentioned today often only in discussion as an anecdote or side tangent. Yet his theology of relationship is powerful, complex, and more relevant today than ever. Michael Berra reintroduces Brunner and the category of relationship as theology's leitmotif, while critically assessing relationality in light of contemporary research. Using analogical reasoning, Berra provides a theological framework of relational depth and breadth. This book was a joy to read!" Thomas Jay Oord, author of Pluriform Love "Discursive theology needs a philosophy that translates the biblical witness convincingly and boldly. How do we understand God and the world? Twentieth-century systematic theology responds with a relational ontology. From this, Michael Berra goes further and deeper. Drawing on Emil Brunner's groundbreaking 'theology of relationship,' he points to ways of reconstructing our habits of thought. It is worthwhile to follow him there." Ralph Kunz, University of Zurich "Christian theology, at its best, is a dynamic endeavor that attends to a rich heritage and responds to the contemporary context. This volume contributes well to that task. With precision and confidence, Berra juxtaposes Christian doctrine and relationship science to argue for a singular theme around which all of theology should turn: relationship. Readers will benefit from his careful analysis of Brunner's work and its enduring relevance for Christian thinking and living today." Cynthia Bennett Brown, author of Believing Thinking, Bounded Theology: The Theological Methodology of Emil Brunner

From the Publisher