On Being a Christian

At 602 pages of text, ON BEING A CHRISTIAN is the definition of a tome. The style is no walk in the park: even taking into account that it's a translation from German, some of the passages are quite dense. The bottom line is, though, that it's worth the effort.When this book first appeared in the 1970s, I hesitated to read it. Aside from the intimidating length of the work, I had the thought--if Kung is on the margins of Catholic theology, then what impact could his work have? Suffice it to say that I was neither a theologian nor a very astute young Catholic. However that may be, I was surprised to find that, except, perhaps, for matters pertaining to Church governance, Kung is hardly a leftist firebrand or a Bishop John Shelby Spong-like skeptic; Kung, essentially, is a fairly orthodox theologian, it seems to me. As a committed Catholic Christian, he's devoted, though, to scraping away the barnacles that have adhered to the mother ship of Roman Catholicism over the past two millennia.Kung does not shy away from the difficult issues: in the course of ON BEING A CHRISTIAN, he tackles thorny issues like Karl Rahner's "Anonymous Christian" concept, the Resurrection, the Trinity, liberation theology, and a Christian's response to war, among many, many problems. I was often in awe of Kung's deft handling of these issues, but other times felt somewhat lost in the theological discourse. For instance, Kung accepts the "reality" of the Resurrection, but rejects the theological and historical necessity of the Empty Tomb. He claims that the disciples could not just have had some sort of self-realized epiphany after the death of Jesus; for the Christian movement to have taken off as it did, it must have been because the disciples of Jesus had a real experience of Jesus' resurrection. But since Kung also rejects the notion that a Christian must accept the violation of the physical laws of the universe, is he trying to have it both ways, or is it that his argument is simply beyond me? For Kung, what is *real* about the Resurrection?Kung's root answer to what Christianity is about is given early on in the book: "Christianity exists only where the memory of Jesus Christ is activated in theory and practice" (p. 126). For Kung, Jesus is "in person the living, archetypal embodiment of his cause" (p. 545). One who accepts this Jesus in his or her life receives the call to be radically human. What ultimately counts in life is not accomplishments (not that accomplishments are bad), but trust (faith) in the Christ Jesus. In fact, Kung demonstrates from the opening section on "The Challenge of Modern Humanisms" throughout the course of this book, that the Christian as true humanist is the principle that underlies his concept of Christianity.For a long time many people have encouraged me to read ON BEING A CHRISTIAN. I am heartily glad that I have finally followed their advice. I know that I will be returning to this book in the years ahead to revisit Kung's keen insights into what being a Christian truly means. In these days, when Christianity has been degraded and sold out as a tool of politicians, this is a book whose message should be read all the more to call us to metanoia, a change of heart.

The book does mention it - all the intellectualizing, the rational, scientific analysis is limiting. Like most apologists, he advocates a leap of faith, albeit not blind but well-informed. This book asks a lot of relevant questions and will sharpen the analytical skills of seminary students by providing a lot of theological background in addition to political, economic and cultural observations, but the answers are not clear, complete, or compelling. After struggling through the tome, one may be tempted, as Khayyam said, to "leave the wise to wrangle". But the author is to be commended for challenging papal infallibility and the rigidity and political ambitions of the papacy even though he knew the Vatican would make his life miserable. Coming back to his questions, like was the Crucifixion necessary? That is something that all thinking minds grapple with. He does expound on it (the question, not the answer) - what kind of savage blood-thirsty God would sacrifice his son in a blatant throwback to pagan rituals? He could have gone a step further and questioned the nature of Yahweh, the warrior god of the Old Testament. Unless one is an unabashed apologist, there is no excusing the behavior of Yahweh. The OT is full of the terrible things Yahweh does to the Canaanites, Amalekites, Midianites, Jebusites, Hittites, and all the other "ites" including the Israelites (the "chosen ones"? - so what are we? chopped liver?). Yahweh's jealousy and anger are mentioned many times, with gory details of his xenophobia, genocide, ethnic cleansing, plunder and rape. How does a Christian reconcile such a monster with the person of Jesus? The book should have addressed that.

this book thirty years ago when Kung was world wide news for being silenced by the Catholic Church. Tubingen University continued his professorship and Kung continued to write. His book on comparative religions isn't a fast read but it is really thorough. I just finished rereading "Christian" and remembered all over why the church would kick his work out. The Catholic Church doesn't want Kung's version of Christianity that does not depend on power and control. Kung provides a humanist view that is hopeful and builds on the work of the second Vatican Council. Pope John the XXIIIrd haunts this book and makes me wistful for what could have been. Kung is a contemporary of the current pope and both worked together at Tubingen and both had doctoral students together. This is revealed in Kung's second autobiography, Disputed Truths...very aptly named.

On balance, this is a book all Christians should read. Kung tackles almost every problem and opportunity to make the faith relevant without changing the basic faith, in his opinion. Yet I read the book without having satisfactory answers to the 4 following questions: 1. the book (602 pages) never mentions hell. What happens to those people who reject Jesus' ideas and demands? Do they cease to exist at death? Go to hell? or some other situation? There are many such people today. 2. Is God so involved with us that God does not exist independently of us? 3. What is the difference between 'Faith' and 'Trust'? Are they interchangible? 4. Kung says we modern Christians were converted, not by historical or critical studies, but by 'word of proclamation'. If so, they how does this differ from 'blind faith' which he rightly criticizes? I hope Kung, or his followers, will eventually answer these questions.

This book met, and exceeded, my expectations.Kung has dug deep and shares new viewpoints that I'd never contemplated. No wonder author Brennan Manning was so gung- go about this book compared to the theology presented in other tomes.

This is a well thoughtout and written theological book by a well defined theologian of our time. Its worth read, and having your own copy. This book speaks to every person of every walk of life. Just get your copy, and find out what I'm taling about!

I did not find this an easy read. It includes a lot of theological, philosophical, humanistic etc detail that was completely above my understanding or interest, BUT I read much of it especially the historical details behind Jesus of Nazareth and the people of the early Christian church. I understand Kung's view to be that how one behaves is the criterion of Christianity and being a Christian does not necessarily mean being a member of any particualr denomination or church today. You may be the sort of person who replies " well I have always thought that anyway" but the detailed considerations of what exactly IS Christian behaviour made me think and this author whom i have often judged as an angry academic came across in parts as a very spiritual person after all. If you find yourself questioning either your own beliefs or those of others and are prepared for a pretty academic read and are able to just skim those parts which are above you or in which you have no interest, then I can whole heartedly recommend this book. I actually began reading it as a library book, but realised that I needed to live with it, go back in to it. I may have to order another copy, since I have worn this paper back edition to pieces and will be reading and re-reading it for a long time yet.

Excellent Opus Magnus, discusses numerous complicated issues of Christianity in a very equilibrated but often controversial manner. Not for beginners, especially for readers without a very good basis in Christology. Kung's views of Christ are controversial on many points. His views on the unbelieveable events described in the Bible are given very common sense discussions. "Many things did not happen as they are described in the Bible and many things did not happen at all", he says. His ideas on Church renewal for our times are noteable and well thought out. His discussion on the relativity of morality and on an absolute standard for ethics is on the mark. Highly recommended.

You will need a Thesaurus next to you when you read this.The book is old but the text is still relevant to today.Just read it...

Fantastic book which has stood the test of time. It is so full of information that whenever one picks it up one finds something new to provoke thought.

Kung offers a balanced view of what it is to live as a Christian, both the edifying and the disappointing. His analysis and opinions have remained consistent through the years. Read originally some 50 years ago, it was purchased as a reference text for a religion study group.