Freedom and Flourishing

Freedom is vital both to Karl Barth's theology and to modern religion, politics, and culture. Leigh describes how Barth's lifelong fascination by freedom culminated in a fresh, daring engagement with it in his last completed book, volume IV/3 of the massive Church Dogmatics--which is probably the most important work of Christian theology in the twentieth century. That volume builds on Barth's earlier work but also goes beyond it in ways that have not yet been appreciated. Leigh shows how this mature theology of Barth not only responds profoundly to key questions about freedom, both in philosophy and theology, but also opens up a rich, habitable understanding of Jesus Christ, and of life in relationship with him, that is prophetic for the twenty-first century. This involves a dynamic integration of knowing with being, being with action, truth with witness, individual with community, and divine initiative with human flourishing. At the heart of this life with God is participation in the asymmetrical yet utterly reciprocal interaction between human beings and the God who loves them in freedom. Leigh succeeds both in describing this participation convincingly and in demonstrating its provocative attractiveness.

""In this insightful study, Robert Leigh sheds fresh light on the conception of divine freedom and human freedom in the work of Karl Barth. Drawing on the hitherto under-explored resources of Church Dogmatics IV/3, Leigh sets forth an actualistic and participative theology of freedom that sets aside any abstract disjunction of God and humanity in favor of attesting their gracious covenant relation in Jesus Christ. This is a book as rewarding as it is compelling.""
-- Paul T. Nimmo, King's Chair of Systematic Theology


Robert Leigh completed his undergraduate degree in divinity at the University of Edinburgh, and his doctoral studies at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge under the supervision of Professor David F. Ford. He is Head of Religion and Philosophy at Highgate School in London.