Kung, Hans

Hans Küng (1928-2021) was a Swiss Catholic theologian and priest who became one of the most influential religious thinkers of the twentieth century. Educated at the Gregorian University in Rome and the Sorbonne, he served as professor of theology at Tübingen University from 1960 to 1996. His critical examination of papal infallibility led to the Vatican revoking his license to teach as a Catholic theologian in 1979. In "Does God Exist? An Answer for Today" (1978), Küng provides a comprehensive analysis of modern atheism and offers a nuanced defense of rational belief in God, engaging seriously with criticisms from Feuerbach, Marx, Freud, and Nietzsche. His approach emphasized dialogue between faith and modern thought, arguing that belief in God remains intellectually defensible while acknowledging the legitimate concerns of secular critique. Küng's work significantly shaped contemporary discussions about the reasonableness of theistic belief.