Theology Analysis of Friedrich Schleiermachers Speeches

Introduction Friedrich Schleiermachers On Religion: Speeches to its Cultured Despisers led to his description of the Father of Modern Theology. The first two speeches, Defence and The Nature of Religion both use established concepts to oppose orthodoxy and establish a new method of theological thought that influences theology to modern times. Paul Tillich and Karl Rahner are also influential, both supporting the vital and intimate relationship between the divine and the human. Furthermore, this essential interrelationship and theologys focus on it are supported by various Christian philosophical/theological thinkers, including Langdon Gilkey, Martin Luther, John Calvin and Blaise Pascal. Body: Q1. Friedrich Schleiermacher has often been called the father of Modern Theology. On the basis of the first two speeches of On Religion: Speeches to its cultured despisers, is that title rightly accorded him or not? Why? The first two speeches of On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers distinguish Schleiermacher as the father of Protestant Liberal Theology, at the very least (Schleiermacher 1996, xiv, xi). The First Speech is Defence (Schleiermacher 1996, 1-25) and the Second Speech is The Nature of Religion (Schleiermacher 1996, 26-118). Reacting to the orthodoxy, enlightened rationality and detachment, and neoclassical ideals of his time (Schleiermacher 1996, xiv, xvi), Schleiermacher used some established concepts to articulate a newer, liberal approach