Friedrich Schleiermacher was a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1768 to 1834. He is considered the father of modern liberal theology and had a significant influence on the development of theology in the 19th century. Though the Bible does not directly discuss Schleiermacher, examining his theology and contributions in light of Scripture can provide insight into this important historical figure.
Schleiermacher’s Life and Work
Schleiermacher was born in 1768 in Breslau, Prussia (now Wroclaw, Poland). His father was a Reformed pastor and he was raised in a deeply religious home. As a young man, however, Schleiermacher began to question some of the orthodox Christian doctrines in which he was raised. After studying theology at the University of Halle, he eventually rejected some foundational Christian beliefs like the inerrancy of Scripture, the divinity of Christ, and the concept of miracles.
In 1796, Schleiermacher became the pastor of the Charité Hospital in Berlin. Here he began to develop his new theology, which he outlined in two major works – On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers (1799) and The Christian Faith (1830). Schleiermacher saw religion not primarily as a set of doctrines but rather as a subjective feeling and experience of absolute dependence on God. He focused on the human experience of faith rather than the objective truth of Scripture or Christian doctrines.
Schleiermacher also made significant contributions in the field of hermeneutics, or biblical interpretation. He emphasized reading Scripture in its historical and cultural context rather than looking for a timeless meaning. He saw biblical texts as human expressions of faith rather than the inspired Word of God. This approach opened the door for very liberal and naturalistic interpretations of the Bible.
In 1810, Schleiermacher became a professor of theology at the new University of Berlin, where he remained until his death in 1834. Through his teaching and writing, he had an enormous impact on an entire generation of German Protestant ministers and theologians. His influence soon spread to other European nations and America as well.
Key Teachings
Some of the key elements of Schleiermacher’s theological perspective include:
- Emphasis on religious experience over doctrine – Schleiermacher defined religion primarily in terms of human intuition and feeling rather than objective doctrinal truths. The essence of faith was the feeling of absolute dependence on God.
- Distinction between “kernel” and “husk” in religion – He distinguished between the “kernel” of true religion found in spiritual experience and the “husk” of creeds, institutions, rituals, etc. This led him to reject many orthodox doctrines.
- Focus on historical/cultural context of Bible – Schleiermacher pioneered modern biblical criticism by emphasizing the importance of understanding Scripture in light of its original historical and cultural setting.
- Highly subjective view of Scripture – He rejected the inerrancy of the Bible and saw it as a human expression of religious ideas rather than the very Word of God.
- An elevated view of human reason – Schleiermacher embraced Enlightenment rationalism and the power of human reason to critique Scripture and reconstruct theology.
- Reinterpretation of Christian doctrines – He redefined doctrines like the person of Christ and the concept of sin in philosophical terms that departed from orthodox understandings.
Critique from a Biblical Perspective
From a biblical perspective, there are a number of serious issues with Schleiermacher’s theological approach and conclusions:
- Contrary to a high view of Scripture – Schleiermacher rejected the inerrancy, inspiration, and authority of the Bible as God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16). Scripture is “breathed out by God.”
- Human-centered rather than Christ-centered – His focus was on religious experience rather than the objective truth revealed in Christ (John 14:6) and Scripture (John 17:17).
- Compromise with Enlightenment rationalism – He embraced rationalism and undermined the revealed truths of Scripture, which are accepted by faith (Hebrews 11:1).
- Subjective reinterpretation of Christian doctrines – He redefined core doctrines based on his own philosophical ideas rather than the clear teaching of Scripture.
- Overemphasis on feeling over objective truth – Schleiermacher made religious experience primary and downplayed the role of doctrine, creed, Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- Historically skewed interpretive approach – While understanding context is valid, his approach went too far and nullified the text’s original meaning.
- Anthropocentric theology – His entire system begins with human experience rather than with God’s revelation in Christ.
Lasting Impact on Theology
Despite these serious biblical issues, Schleiermacher had an enormous impact that continues to this day:
- Father of modern theological liberalism – His ideas opened the door for liberal higher criticism of the Bible and questioning of orthodox doctrines.
- Shifted focus to religious consciousness – He made human religious experience the starting point for theological reflection.
- Influenced hermeneutics – Schleiermacher’s principles of biblical interpretation changed the way scholars approach study of the biblical text.
- Rejection of the supernatural – His thinking led to widespread rejection of biblical miracles and other supernatural elements.
- Rise of liberal Protestantism – He shaped an entire generation of more skeptical, philosophically oriented German Protestant leaders and thinkers.
- Ecumenical impact – Schleiermacher’s ideas created common ground between liberals and more skeptical scholars that helped pave the way for modern ecumenism.
- Continued influence today – Contemporary theologians often reflect Schleiermacher’s emphasis on experience, postmodern philosophies, and less rigid doctrinal systems.
While Schleiermacher was clearly a brilliant and influential thinker, evangelical biblical scholars widely consider his conclusions misguided and harmful to orthodox Christian theology. His legacy reflects the dramatic shift that took place during the Enlightenment era as human reason and experience began to displace the authority of divine revelation.
From a biblical perspective, Schleiermacher’s experiential theology represents a departure from the central tenets of the Christian faith. However, his enduring impact over the last 200 years serves as a reminder of the vital need for the church to stand faithfully on the authority of Scripture alone and proclaim the objective truth of the gospel revealed in Jesus Christ.