Swiss Theologian Karl Barth has somewhat the same position in contemporary Protestant thinking that Einstein* has in science: Barth's complex system of thought is fully appreciated only by the highbrows, but, like Einstein's, his influence is wide and deep. When the Christian Century began a series of articles by theologians on "How My Mind Has Changed in the Past Decade," it led off with the contribution of 62-year-old Karl Barth.
Published in two installments, Barth's essay might disappoint those who were looking for a stiff workout in theology. Instead he served up a chattily informal account of his past ten years (even...