Bultmann's Philosophical Troubles

These words were written by a preacher-theologian of grey hairs and very great learning: "'In the fullness of time' God sent forth his Son, a pre-existent divine Being, who appears on earth as a man. He dies the death of a sinner on the cross and makes atonement for the sins of men... What a primitive mythology it is, that a divine Being should become incarnate, and atone for the sins of men through his own blood" Since 1941, when those wartime words were written, Dr. Bultmann has checked his inclination to apply the term "myth" in wholesale fashion, but his demythologizing works continue to be widely quoted, and their claims can still produce annoyance in the reader and plain uncertainty over what to make of the term "myth", with its unmistakable smell of something not wanted. In this paper I want first to look into Bultmann's use of that word, and then, by remembering some things from the history of philosophy, to replace that uncertainty if possible with a smile of recognition

Art · Atonement · Literature · Mythology · Physics · Term (time) · Theology · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Philosophy

• Kant Versus Bultmann on Miracles

  Open Access•Tom Settle•Dialogue•1971

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