Friedrich Schleiermacher: Between Enlightenment and Romanticism

Description

Friedrich Schleiermacher's groundbreaking work in theology and philosophy was forged in the cultural ferment of Berlin at the convergence of the Enlightenment and Romanticism. The three sections of this book include illuminating sketches of Schleiermacher's relationship to contemporaries (Mendelssohn, Hegel, and Kierkegaard), his work as public theologian (dialog on Jewish emancipation, founding the University of Berlin) as well as the formation and impact of his two most famous books, On Religion: Speeches to its Cultured Despisers and The Christian Faith. Richard Crouter examines Schleiermacher's stance regarding the status of doctrine, church and political authority, and the place of theology among the academic disciplines. Dedicated to the Protestant church in the line of Calvin, Schleiermacher was equally a man of the university who brought the highest standards of rationality, linguistic sensitivity, and a sense of history to bear upon religion.

Richard Crouter is Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, Carleton College, Minnesota. His many publications include the highly acclaimed Schleiermacher: On Religion: Speeches to its Cultured Despisers (1996).

From the hardback review: 'Crouter's book is important for tracing the evolution of Schleiermacher's thought. ... Crouter has long harboured a wish to write a biography of Schleiermacher, and his knowledge of the factors that shaped his life and thought make this book a valuable guide to understanding him.' Church Times