As we begin a new year, fearfully yet expectantly, we reflect upon the mournfully long obituary list for 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert J. Kennedy, Franklin Clark Fry, Augustine Cardinal Bea, Norman Thomas, Thomas Merton, and now to the list we must add Karl Barth.
–Theology Today, January 1969
Merton and Barth both died on the same day (10th December). I imagine them having some interesting conversations in heaven. In Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander Merton ruminates on how Barth could never understand the appeal of Catholicism. But, says Merton, this was a man who played Mozart music recordings almost every day in the mornings before going to work on his dogma, and once even dreamed about Mozart. Merton wonders whether this might be evidence of another side of Barth, in which his feelings yearned for something more affective than cerebral Protestantism. Merton writes: ‘Fear not, Karl Barth! Though you have grown up to become a theologian, Christ remains a child in you. Your books (and mine) matter less than we might think!’
Thanks, Fr. Tee. Fascinating reflection on Merton and Barth. I’m not a big Barth fan myself, but I do suppose that someday he’ll be recognized as a Doctor of the Church, or at least as the greatest Protestant theologian of the 20th century.
But 40 years later, this [b]Theology Today[/b] roll call of notable figures who departed this life in 1968 sounds a bit strange to me. How in the world does lamenting the assassination of Robert Kennedy fit in with a commemorative list of deceased theological and religious leaders? And who really cares about relative nobodies like Frankline Clark Fry or Norman Thomas these days?
I had to Google their names to find out about them. It turns out that the Rev. Franklin Fry was a key ecumenical leaders among American Lutherans, at one time president of the LCA and even of the Lutheran World Federation. I guess that just shows my ignorance of recent American church history.
But along with RFK, the other guy, Norman Thomas was much more of a political figure than a religious one. Although he had been a Presbyterian minister, Thomas was mainly a tireless advocate for pacifism during WWI and WWII and the six-time presidential candidate for the (mainly Marxist) Socialist Party in America.
Then again, lots of Christians died in 1968. And inevitably, few were as influential or historically significant as Merton and Barth.
I’m just wondering why Kendall saw fit to call attention to this little tribute to dead men from over 40 years ago. Not objecting, just curious.
David Handy+
“I had to Google their names to find out about them….I’m just wondering why Kendall saw fit to call attention to this little tribute to dead men from over 40 years ago. Not objecting, just curious.”
Oh, David, doncha remember that Simon & Garfunkel hit from ’68:
‘So long, Frank Lin Fry… ‘ 🙂