It is simply the best introduction to Balthasar's thoughts. I didn't understand what is really going on with the 'Analogy of Being' business in medieval theology until I find this book. (Not that I understand it well right now, but at least I finally find a systematic introduction that makes sense to a contemporary reader.)

The writing, while sometimes dense, has the rare clarity that makes you feel like you learn and understand something more after reading every paragraph. It is a very refreshing book in this way.

Oakes captures and transmits the beauty of Balthasar's rich and complex theology in this clearly-written and inspiring volume. This book moves one to prayer, to the silent contemplation of God, the Father, Son and Spirit, the Loved One of Balthasar. Oakes, like the theologian he so lovingly studies, has an astounding knowledge of everything -- philosophy, theology, history, culture, science. Everything! I heartily commend this book!

This eminently readable book provides an excellent introduction to the thought of this most difficult figure, making him accessible in a way that many other books on Balthasar have not. Moreover, it does not fall into the trap of "hagiography", that is, of being excessively admiring and blindly uncritical, which has typified so much of what has been written on Balthasar.

Hans Kung is arguably the most thoughtful and influential Christian theologian of our time. In this work, Kung explores the mystery of life after death, using insights from the fields of medicine and science, history and archaeology, philosophy and theology. A master of apologetics, Kung examines all sides of the argument and then makes a reasonable case for those who believe in and hope for eternal life. And as always in his writings, Kung astutely demonstrates that belief in the hereafter is not just an academic speculation, but indeed has immense implications for how we live in the "here-and-now."

6 frameable posters each about 18" x 12" (with no folds!)--a bargain! One might quibble with the choice of images, but it would be hard to choose 6 images from Curtis' vast catalog that everyone would agree on.

An excellent book! Not only is this a significant work by one of the past century's most important Roman Catholic theologians, but it has set a paradigm for Barth interpretation for 40 years since its publication - even among Protestant scholars. Balthasar's study focuses on the issue of nature and grace (naturally) and the promise of Christological ways of theologizing for ecumenical dialogue. Balthasar's reading of Barth's theological development has been challenged of late (Bruce McCormack), but his 'magisterial work' contains so much promise and insight that it is not likely to be outdated anytime soon. I definately recomend this book to anyone interested in Barth, Balthasar, or in Catholic-Protestant dialogue.

Hans Kung writes as one thoroughly committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, unlike some Christian writers, Kung writes with an intellectual depth and honesty that is refreshing. Kung does not shy away from bringing the Christian message into a living dialogue with modern scholarship, the other world religions, and the real challenges facing the human race today. I take issue with his sometimes-unconditional acceptance of higher Biblical criticism. However, as a Christian, I contend that Kung provides a true, relevant, and comprehensive analysis of the Christian faith for our time. A must-read for any serious theologian!

Kung writes very well and made me think a great deal. He opened my mind to seeing christianity in ways I hadn't thought of before. I liked this book a great deal-the author comes across as a deeply caring man of great humanity. While I am still an atheist, this book made me stop and think very respectfully about what was written. Convincing? Not quite. Moving? Yes.

Küng is an amazing author and his perspective is quite envigorating. I came across this book during a time in my life when I was about to give up my Christian faith. It brought me into a fresh, living perspective and out of narrow fundamentalism once and for all. Though in his examination of Jesus' time, he tends to be too stereotypical in typecasting groups in the Jesus' time, it is an amazing paradigm to view Jesus from. I would criticize the overly eschatalogical vision he has of Jesus that he seems to get from Schweitzer. Lastly, his understanding of being a Christian as being radically human is beautiful and moving.

This book contains the best black/white images from the original complete collection. The portraits of Indian and the past moment of their daily life were captured with their character and dignity.

It is a marvelous image collection (Edward spent 30 years to make this 20-volume encyclopedia) of history. It represents the love of the dying population, and records the broken dream of native Indian.

This is an incredible collection of pictures. Piles on piles of pictures. But... The pictures are small. I was hoping for a collection of large pictures(i.e. 8x10) but the majority of them are approximately 4x5. It's a wonderful book, but don't expect full sized images. Irregardless it's a great buy for the price. You'll have a hard time finding a collection of pictures as big as this(even if the pictures are small) :)

absolutely stunning recollection of his complete photos. the reproductions are somewhat small, but easily viewable. such a complete set is so awe inspiring, anyone who has an interest or a love for native ameircan history/american history must have this book. absolute beauty.

I haven't read this book in over 10 years (it is next on my "reread list"), but it impacted me greatly. I disagree with Kung on several points, specifically that atheists tend towards nihilism, or that atheism IS nihilism. Kung seems to think that by destroying nihilism (as a valid philosophical conclusion) he has also destroyed atheism, which is a patently silly idea and one of the few dogmatic positions that Kung has.

What I got out of the book is that Kung thinks that God probably exists. I disagree with this conclusion because I feel that Kung actually shows that God probably does not, which is where I stand on the matter.

(I sincerely hope that I am not thinking of a similar book by a different author haha that would be embarrassing).

UPDATE: When I originally read this book in the late 1980s, I also read about 5 books on the same subject by authors from all colors of the religious spectrum. I have recently re-read the book, as I said I would above and I confess that I did in fact have this book confused with another similar book, but only on the point I made in the first paragraph (about nihilism).

I must let the second paragraph stand. I did remember correctly that although Kung showed why all of the philosophical arguments for the existance of god fail, he later does a meta-analysis of the arguments where he says that although individually they fail, taken together they show that there is probably a god. Like I mentioned before I think Kung drew the wrong conclusion from this line of reasoning, for I think that he actually show that there is probably not. Regardless of where I stand on the issue, I believe that the very last sentence of this book should have read: "So, DOES God exist? Most likely not."

The book is not nearly as accessable as I remembered. In fact, without a background in philosophy, this book might not make much sense, although a first year philosophy student would make short work of it and even a "philosophy for idiots" type book would probably be sufficient.

This is a very thorough, comprehensive book. It is at times prolix - but this usually only serves to help you remember most of what he says. He does not however say that atheists tend towards nihilism. He is very liberal and completely unbiased, being careful to always give both sides of the argument even when one side seems rediculous. Perhaps mr mcduffie was reading the wrong book. If you want to acquire a thorough understanding of the evolution of modern thought, the basic histroy of the theology of the church and the arguments for and against God, i do not know of a better book to read than this one.

This is probaly the best book I have ever read. The scholarship is peerless. Important thinkers from Nietzsche to Einstein are explicated.It is an exhuative anlysis combining theology, psychology and theology. After reading it and understanding it one has a new context and breadth of understanding to exameine the question proposed. Agnostic, believer alike will benefit from this book that every intellectual should read.

Considered on purely military grounds, the heroes of Nazi Germany's armed forces were as remarkable as the best fighting men anywhere. Fighter aces such as Adolf Galland, panzer commanders such as Michael Wittmann, generals such as Erwin Rommell, all enjoyed the unfeigned respect of friend and foe alike. The soldierly virtues of boldness, duty, martial skill, and dash transcended national and ideological boundaries.

The most highly decorated man on the German side during World War II was Hans-Ulrich Rudel, stuka pilot, and this picture biography is a 277 page long valentine to him. He comes across as quite an alpha male in these pages. His lust for life brought him success in his military career, and his postwar mountaineering and sporting competitions.

Now, if you're here, you probably already know the background of Rudel's weapon of choice, the Junkers Ju-87 Stuka divebomber. By the time the war started it was already obsolescent, beginning to be outclassed by fighters entering service with the Western allies. But in the early going it was the very outward and visible sign of Nazi hyper-aggression. The black crooked-wing craft even looked somewhat like a flying swastika. The whine of its propeller and the screech of its dive siren triggered terror in its victims. Though the Stuka was soon driven from the skies of the Western front, it served in the East as a most capable ground attack airplane right up to the very end of the war. Rudel's Stuka was equipped with 3.7 cm flak cannons, to make it a feared _panzerknacker_, or tank buster.

This book relates in minute detail Rudel's many accomplishments. He and his squadron single-handedly beat back a Soviet armored assault. He rescued the crew of a downed Stuka from under the noses of the advancing Red Army. He was himself downed behind enemy lines and got back to his base in a masterpiece of evasion and escape. He even lost part of a leg and kept flying, was officially grounded and kept flying clandestinely. He finished the war with upwards of 2,500 combat missions, 500 tank kills, and one sunk battleship to his credit--an amazing feat given that he flew a slow, out-of-date aircraft in a theater where the enemy enjoyed air superiority from about 1944 onwards. Thank God his side lost, but the man deserved all the praise he got.

The latter third of the book deals with his postwar career as an adventurer masquerading as an industrial salesman. While "alive and well and living in Argentina" he schmoozed with the Perons, climbed the world's highest volcano three times, and got in some high-diving--all this with one leg, remember. Curiously, the book makes no mention and includes no pictures of Rudel's funeral, though the German edition of this translation was published four years after his death. It also does not discuss his continued Nazi sympathies, and his recurring embarrassment of the West German government with his right-wing activities after the war. But be charitable: he was the greatest combat pilot ever, and should be respected as such

This book details Hans Ulric Rudels personal views and experiences as a stuka pilot during World War II. It is based on his recollections as he had his Pilot Log stolen from him by Americans after he surrendered.

An exceptional man, who never gave up under the direst of circumstances. During the war he sunk a Battleship, destroyed around 500 tanks, shot down around 20 fighter planes and evaded capture behind enemy lines.

He shows us how one man can always make a difference.

I HAVE A PAPERBACK OF THIS BOOK WHICH PUBLISHED BY BALLANTINE BOOKS N.Y. IT IS A GREAT HISTORY OF NOT ONLY HANS RUDEL BUT ALSO WW2 EASTERN FRONT.

With a book like this, many readers cheat themselves by assuming that they already know what it's about, because they heard the outline of the story before, and therefore they have no need to really read it. A lot like the way some people treat the Bible, or at least large parts of the Bible. Anyway, I recently re-read this book to one of my daughters, and can report that upon close consideration, this book is really a retrospective Calvinistic explanation for how old Dr. Boekman finds a successor for his surgical practice, following Dr. Boekman's disappointment in his only son, who never liked medicine and who in fact found a reason to run away from Holland to resettle in England to pursue a business career. The rich descriptions of Dutch history and culture form the context for this drama.

Consequently, Dr. Boekman's whole outlook on life, exemplified by his perpetual frown, descends into depression as he humorlessly goes about his surgical practice, all the while increasing his fame which radiates from Amsterdam far out into the provinces, symbolized by the transportation and communication pathway of the frozen canals, over which all ages and classes of people happily skate through what used to be extremely cold winter months in Holland. These canals have not frozen solid on a regular basis for many decades.

These frozen canals in turn exemplify Dr. Boekman's frozen heart, which ultimately gets melted as a result of the importuning of Raff Brinker's son, young Hans, who cajoles old Dr. Boekman into taking a look at old Raff, who has been an invalid since suffering a closed head trauma while working out on the dikes during a fierce storm.

Dr. Boekman ends up surgically unblocking the "brainfreeze" suffered by Raff Brinker, who comes back to life "talking like an Amsterdam lawyer" which is a complete turn around from his invalid state where he appeared to be a distant, angry, barely controllable hulk crouching in his house by the fire, and casting a gloom of social obloquy which tainted not only his children, but his very cottage, in the eyes of most of the other respectable members of Dutch society, as they skated by on their local frozen canal.

By the end of the book, the connection achieved by Hans Brinker between his remote father and the remote surgeon seems to have spread, or networked, and young Hans is a rising surgeon practicing with Dr. Boekman, and happily married, while Dr. Boekman's biological son returns, or is redeemed back from England to practice a bustling business trade also in Amsterdam. The silver skates and the races on the canals are mainly a way for Hans to prove something to himself, that he can set his mind to what he wishes to achieve, and against all odds achieve it. The fact that all of this works to bring reconciliation and happiness back into people who are disconnected and frozen, rather than constituting a sappy, Dickensian series of unlikely coincidences, instead creates more of an echo of predestination than merely a "happy ending."

But then again, this is only one explanation of what we have here in this classic book.

I thought it was a wounderful story for the whole family to read.

Is this the greatest book ever? Maybe, maybe not. Shakespeare had some good ones. Either way, this merits the five stars I've given it. Delve into one of the greatest stories ever told, and learn all about Holland. By the time you're done, you'll want to go ice skating.

So strap on your wooden skates and squeek across the ice of Ole Holland. Who gets the silver skates? Who is the greatest hero? Is hidden fortune just under the peat moss?

Dat hangt er van af . . .