Today, we are happy to bring you our conversation with Stanley Hauerwas, author of FULLY ALIVE: The Apocalyptic Humanism of Karl Barth, out this week.

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What inspired you to write this book?

I wrote this book because I am a writer.  Writers write even if they are theologians.  I write to help Christians discover how odd it is to be a Christian and to help non-Christians to discover how interesting it is to be a Christian.  I can think no better way to do that than focusing on Karl Barth.

What did you learn and what are you hoping readers will learn from your book?

I discovered I still have something to say.  I hope my readers discover that theology is a crucial discipline for helping us understand what it means to be a human being.

What surprised you the most in the process of writing your book?

have written more books than is good for anyone but I discovered in writing this one that I still have something to say.  What I have to say I said through the great theologian Karl Barth because Barth theology is joyous.  

What’s your favorite anecdote from your book?

My favorite story about Barth is he imagines he enters heaven pulling a red wagon with all 14 volumes of the Church Dogmatics in the wagon--and as he walked the street of gold all the angels laughed.

What’s next?

I am writing a biography of my books for myself and friends.  

Photo courtesy of Duke Divinity School.