born Dec. 23, 1889, Winterthur, Switz.
died April 6, 1966, Zürich
Swiss Reformed theologian.
After serving as a pastor at Obstalden (191624), he taught for many years at the University of Zürich (192453); he lectured widely during this time and was a delegate to the founding session of the World Council of Churches in 1948. His theology was influenced by Martin Buber 's view of the relationship between God and man. Like Karl Barth , he rejected 19th-century liberal theology in favour of reaffirming the central tenets of the Reformation , but his assertion that God was revealed in creation led to a dispute with Barth. His works include The Theology of Crisis (1929), Man in Revolt (1937), and Justice and the Social Order (1945).