Making of Stanley Hauerwas : Bridging Barth and Postliberalism

In the past half-century, few theologians have shaped the landscape of American belief and practice as much as Stanley Hauerwas. His work in social ethics, political theology, and ecclesiology has had a tremendous influence on thechurch and society. But have we understood Hauerwas's theology, his influences, and his place among the theologians correctly?

Hauerwas is often associated―and rightly so―with the postliberal theological movement and its emphasis on a narrative interpretation of Scripture. Yet he also claims to stand within the theological tradition of Karl Barth, who strongly affirmed the priority of Jesus Christ in all matters and famously rejected Protestant liberalism. These are two rivers that seem to flow in different directions.

In this New Explorations in Theology (NET) volume, theologian David Hunsicker offers a reevaluation of Hauerwas's theology, arguing that he is both a postliberal and a Barthian theologian. In so doing, Hunsicker helps us to understand better both the formation and the ongoing significance of one of America's great theologians.

Featuring new monographs with cutting-edge research, New Explorations in Theology provides a platform for constructive, creative work in the areas of systematic, historical, philosophical, biblical, and practical theology.

David B. Hunsicker (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is associate pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. He previously taught theology at Azusa Pacific University and served as a youth pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood.

Stanley Hauerwas (PhD, Yale University) is Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School, Duke University. He was named "America's best theologian" by Time.