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"On the factor which should unite its members, belief, it (the Church) lets its theologians say different and contradictory things. You can believe that God exists or that he is "the origin of my safety with and committedness to my fellow-man" (Braun). Jesus may have been only a man, or both God and man. You may believe that Jesus has been from eternity and came into the world by virgin birth. But you may also believe "he is the Son of God because of his conduct... in that he fears, loves and trusts God above all things" (Zahrnt). You may believe 'in' Jesus but also believe 'like' Jesus... "Belief is based on premises and is secured by them" or "is unsecured and must dispense with security" (Knevels)... Whether it is about God or the Faith, the Holy Ghost or Eternal Life, the author of St. John's gospel or the authenticity of a saying of Jesus-- there are always at least two opposing doctrines or schools... The church is schizophrenic, pulpit and professional chair remain different worlds." (Jesus und die Kirchen) (88:2) The Church, which does not clearly take up a position itself, has turned into a "debating hall," in which "unauthoritative religious declamations are presented" (Kuenneth), theology has "become a maze in which even the experts... often lose their way" (Harenberg). Meanwhile theological dispute has brought out such a mass of contradictions that Walter Kuenneth speaks of "a high degree of confusion" and Gerhard Ebeling, who deplores the "obstinate non-understanding and misunderstanding in the discussions between theologians of the same denomination," even speaks of "chaos." Hermann Diem sees among the Protestant university theologians "hardly any longer a common basis for discussion... on which agreement could be reached." Some Protestant theologians today hold positions which make their opposing experts talk of "the end of theology" and of "total theological sell-out."
(88:3)
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