[Biggirl]

That is a little kid’s Christian song.

[newheart]

I suspect that more people know that “quote” from Barth than any of the millions of other words he wrote and spoke. Unfortunately, I have never been able to pin it down either. I believe it is completely within his character to have said that, but it’s an American song from the 1860s making it unlikely (but not impossible) that his mother would have sung it to him—he was born in 1886.

[El Cid]

It does not really matter.
In the past I have quoted the same Karl Barth reference, and I've also heard it similarly attributed to Lord Kelvin (William Thomson). The story went that Lord Kelvin was a being asked of all his great discoveries and investigations ... what was the greatest thing he ever learned?
Whether or not the Karl Barth and/or Lord Kelvin stories are legends or real, is not all that important. The words of that 'child's song' still ring true:

Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so ...

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Barth’s a heretic in that he denies the divinity of Jesus. (and, don’t get me started on Braaten and Jensen!)

IOW, who the flip cares?

[righttackle44]

Waaayyy too much theologizing 'n' skepticizing.

Not nearly enough Believin' in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Reality and the Blessing regardless of whether or not Mr. Barth ever summarized his own belief in the words of Jesus Loves Me.

The question on that Day is not going to be "Did Mr. Barth honestly say his own personal faith is expressed in the song?"

The question will be "Is your name in the Lamb's Book of Life."

[Fiji Hill]

"Jesus Loves Me," with lyrics by Anna Warner and music by William Bradbury first appeared in Bradbury's Golden Shower of S. S. Melodies--A New Collection of hymns and Tunes for the Sabbath School (New York: Ivison, 1862) A German translation, "Jesus Liebt Mich," appeared in a German-language hymnal, Psalter und Harfe: Lieder und Melodien für Schule, Haus und gottesdienstlichen Gebrauch (Psalter and Harp: Songs and Melodies for School, Home and Worship) (Cincinnati: Jennings & Graham, 1876).

Bradbury (d. 1868), who wrote music for such hymns as "My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast" (1862) and "He Leadeth Me" (1864) was a prominent figure in the world of American sacred music in the 1850's and '60's.

[Liberty Wins]

Thanks for this post. I don’t know or care where this story originated, but if anybody ever asks me that same question I’ll have the perfect answer . . .

[Mrs. Don-o]

Reminds me of the story ("Told to me by somebody who knew somebody who was there....") that some NYC Catholic Worker staff were going to hear Karl Rahner in the early 70's (?) --- at a panel discussion at the Union Theological Seminary in NYC. Though invited, Dorothy Day didn't want to attend, she thought Rahner was way too liberal for her tastes. Finally she consented to go, sitting inconspicuously in the back.

In come all the academic theologians, looking all smart and spiffy and carrying the New York Times and briefcases.

In comes Rahner, a little late, wearing those knee-high rubber rain boots --- galoshes? We called them "4-buckle arctics" --- with the boot-flaps open and the buckles kind of clinking and jingle-jangling together. Rahner sits down at his place on the stage, and while the preceding speakers are nattering on about genre-criticism and the uses of Bronze Age Semitic myths and relevant progressive socio-politiical contexts, he pulls a rosary out of his pocket, closes his eyes, leans back, and starts fingering the beads, his lips moving silently.

< Dorothy left quite early, before Rahner even spoke. Her friends asked her why. Her answer? She didn't care for the other speakers. And as for Rahner? She knew he'd do OK, he's "One of us."

[MosesKnows]

“Jesus Loves Me, This I Know…”

The Book of Ephesians, Chapter 2 Verse 8.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Christians do not go about seeking verification of that which they have accepted by faith and grace.

[RightField]

Bump for later read