A ‘Glaring Misunderstanding'? Schleiermacher, B arth and the Nature of Speculative Theology

Both Friedrich Schleiermacher and Karl B arth attempted to keep C hristian dogmatic theology free from abstract philosophical speculation. However, B arth thinks that Schleiermacher is guilty of the very speculative theology to which Schleiermacher is so averse. This article will defend the claim that B arth misreads S chleiermacher's G laubenslehre , such that Schleiermacher's theological method and formulations are just as anti‐speculative as B arth's. To defend this claim, this article examines what B arth considers to be speculative theology as well as his accusation that Schleiermacher is guilty of such speculative proposals. After considering B arth's challenges, this article defends Schleiermacher's methodology and theology as anti‐speculative. Finally, several additional accusations against Schleiermacher (those of B ruce M c C ormack and T homas C urran) are overcome.