"What you believe about Jesus is your politics"

As a supplement to our Monday night sessions on Karl Barth and the Barmen Declaration, I sat down for a brief conversation with my mentor and friend, Stanley Hauerwas.

• Scroll below for the YouTube video of our conversation, which may have better audio— my bad.

If you would like to join us live tonight at 7:00EST, use this link.

Quick— if you don’t your own Stanley Hauerwas: “Jesus is Lord and Everything Else is Bullshit” t-shirt— you can get one HERE.

Show Notes

Sound Bites

• "What you believe about Jesus is the politics."

• "We need something like a Barman Declaration that challenged the German Christians' accommodation with Hitler."

• "The distinction between law and gospel is qualified because the law is Christ."

Summary

In this conversation, Stanley Hauerwas reflects on the significance of the Barman Declaration and its relevance today. He discusses the Christological center of the declaration and the importance of the church as a witness in a sinful world. Hauerwas also explores the rejection of natural theology and the two kingdoms doctrine in the declaration. He reflects on the legacy of Barman and its implications for addressing contemporary issues, such as antisemitism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hauerwas shares his thoughts on the current state of universities and the emptiness of democracy without a moral purpose. The conversation concludes with a discussion on retirement and the future of Methodism.

Takeaways

• The Barman Declaration emphasized the Christological center of the church and its role as a witness in a sinful world.

• The declaration rejected natural theology and challenged the two kingdoms doctrine.

• The legacy of Barman includes addressing contemporary issues like antisemitism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

• Universities today reflect the emptiness of democracy without a moral purpose.

• Retirement can be challenging, but it is an opportunity to reflect and engage with important books and ideas.

• The future of Methodism is uncertain, but there is a need for ongoing dialogue and engagement with contemporary issues.