KEJAHATAN DI TENGAH KEBAIKAN CIPTAAN: DAS NICHTIGE DALAM TEOLOGI KARL BARTH

Abstract

In a post-tragedy situation, theodicy questions often arise. Facing evilreality, many people question the goodness of God. Only few question thegoodness of creation (“ktisiodicy”?). Writing in a post-Holocaust Europeancontext, Barth expounded the idea of a continual threat for the good creationtermed as “das Nichtige” (nothingness). This evil factor is not part of the goodcreation. It is the third factor between God and his creation. It originated in hisrejection, unwillingness, and therefore is the complete antithesis of the willedcreation. Barth made a distinction between “nothingness” and “the shadowy sideof creation”. Though having a dark character, the latter is still part of the goodcreation. The reliable basis to build such concept lies in the revelation of God inChrist-event. Though clearly written in Western context, this view shows us thegoodness of creation, God’s compassion to our sufferings, and warns us all of thecontinuing threat of nothingness.