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Schleiermacher on Religion
Author(s) -
Dole Andrew
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
religion compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.113
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 1749-8171
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-8171.2009.00196.x
Subject(s) - scrutiny , epistemology , interpretation (philosophy) , phenomenon , ideal (ethics) , natural (archaeology) , psychology , character (mathematics) , order (exchange) , face (sociological concept) , social psychology , sociology , philosophy , social science , history , theology , linguistics , geometry , mathematics , archaeology , finance , economics
Since Schleiermacher’s lifetime there have been three prominent ‘school‐interpretations’ of his understanding of religion, each of which has misrepresented him in important ways. I briefly describe the contents of the three traditions of Schleiermacher‐interpretation before turning to a reconstruction of his understanding of religion. Schleiermacher described religion as a complex cultural and social process, grounded in a central feature or ‘essence’ which determines its ideal character. Properly understood, his account of religion was neither an attempt to describe all religions as fundamentally the same nor an attempt to shield religion from scientific scrutiny. Rather, the account was calculated to serve the interests of the peaceful coexistence of religion and science by displaying religion as a phenomenon capable of adapting in the face of advancing knowledge concerning the natural order and concerning religion itself.