Harper Torch Book, 1958, 287 pgs.
Summary: Schleiermacher (1768-1834) attempts to preserve Protestant Christianity from the corrosive effects of materialism by mixing Lutheran pietism with Spinoza and Platonism. He is obviously influenced by dialectic thought but does not appear to be a strict Hegelian. He begins with the following presuppositions: human beings are evolving and maturing, God’s work with humanity must be universal, true piety is the positive emotional response of the finite to the Infinite. On the issue of universalism, there seems to be a synergy between Spinoza’s pantheism (all that is is God) and the egalitarian love of much medieval and Lutheran mysticism.
The book is divided up into five speeches to the cultured Germans of his day who are rejecting Christianity. Schleiermacher wrote the speeches as a rhetorical argument against despising Christianity. Because he was often more concerned about the rhetorical effect rather than clarity, there are about 60 pages of explanations required to explain to his readers exactly what he meant. Many times he points his reader to his Glaubenslehre or systematic theology to clarify what his intentions were. Because he defines piety as an emotional response to the Infinite, truth is secondary to the emotional experience.
Since Schleiermacher concluded that Spinoza was mostly right, Christianity must now modify itself with the newly discovered insights of the modern age. Christianity remains the best religion; Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the redeemer and ultimate mediator between the finite and the Infinite. I can identify no rational grounds for Christ being a redeemer within On Religion, but perhaps this is explained in the Glaubenslehre. He argues that doctrine and creeds are of little benefit in guiding the emotions, and the point of true religion is to experience the Infinite. Religions channel approaches to the Infinite around the insights of priests, but everyone should become Protestant Christian rather than a Catholic, Muslim, or Jew. Protestant Christianity is the purest approach to the Infinite because of the role of Christ as the ultimate mediator.
Benefits: The book is of historical value to exhibit what happens when Christians attempt to adopt the first principles of materialism or any other alien philosophy into their theological system. Schleiermacher’s insight that true religion is a finite man responding with love to an infinite God is accurate.
Detriments: To conclude that the Bible is wrong and that the church has always been wrong is to stand before man and say, “God is wrong, and some men tell the truth” (cf. Rom. 3:4). The system of Schleiermacher is not supported by the Bible, the Holy Spirit’s testimony within Christ’s Church, or by reason—reason submissive to revelation and reason ruling over revelation. The God of Schleiermacher is so indefinite and weak that it should be no surprise that Nietzsche (1844-1900) proclaimed him dead.