Martin Buber

Part of the classic Makers of the Modern Theological Mind series, recently made available again with new paperback cover designs, Stephen Panko’s Martin Buber thoroughly examines the life, work and influence of prolific Jewish thinker, author, scholar, literary translator and political activist, Martin Buber.

While Buber’s writings ranged from Jewish mysticism to social philosophy, biblical studies, religious phenomenology, philosophical anthropology, education, politics and art, probably one of his most well-known writings is the short, but profound book, I and Thou, in which he asserted that we can only become a personal "I" when we treat others, nature, and God as a "Thou" rather than an impersonal “it”. Buber’s work became widely known in Christian circles and his concept of “I-Thou” relationships was adopted by Christian theologians Karl Barth, Emil Brunner, Rudolf Bultmann, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Friedrich Gogarten among others. Panko’s overview of Martin Buber provides a penetrating insight into the many facets of Buber and his work.

The Makers of the Modern Theological Mind series remains a must read for anyone eager to understand these theologians and their impact on today’s church.