Schleiermacher and Christianity

Christian Alexander

I recently watched a sermon on Schleiermacher and Christianity. I have read the Stanford Philosophy website on Schleiermacher as well as Wikipedia. I cannot understand how he interpreted the Bible. Does anyone have any thoughts?

MJ. Smith

Thank you for making a serious effort to answer your own question. Theologically, I think of Schleiermacher as bringing religion back into the feeling/experiential/mystical realm i.e. rescuing it from the scourge of over-rationalization. In Bible interpretation, his work is so ubiquitous that unless you know the history of Biblical interpretation it is a bit of a "fish in the ocean" problem.  He developed a new method of Biblical interpretation called "grammatical-historical interpretation." i.e. careful analysis of the text's grammar and historical context in order to understand the author's original meaning.  This is nearly universally accepted today including his emphasis on the authorial intent.  He thought of the Bible not just as a series of propositions but rather as a record of human experience to be interpreted through reader's own experiences and understanding. Think of this as embodying the feeling/experiential/mystical realm theology I first mentioned. Think also of the reader-response Bible criticism that is also widely used today. Warning: theological guess ahead. I believe that one could say that mainline Protestants' Bible interpretation today embodies most of Schleiermacher's proposals - "fish in the sea" defense for not understanding; Evangelicals' Bible interpretation today tends to deemphasize the experiential/mystical and the readers' role in interpretation portion of Schleiermacher's work. Does that help? Does it raise additional questions?

Ken McGuire

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1278511#Comment_1278511

I am not saying you are wrong, but find it interesting that traditionalists in my LCMS insist on Grammatical-Historical method and contrast it with the Historical-Critical Method and Higher Criticism, and view Schleiermacher as the source of "I Theology" that is primarily about the Theologian instead of about God.

Even if I will admit that some of what they complain about is there in Schleiermacher, I have a bit higher view of him, some of which is in my introductions to the PB editions I put in the Files section years ago, before they were otherwise available in Logos.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1278517#Comment_1278517

Ken McGuire said:

I am not saying you are wrong, but find it interesting that traditionalists in my LCMS insist on Grammatical-Historical method and contrast it with the Historical-Critical Method and Higher Criticism, and view Schleiermacher as the source of "I Theology" that is primarily about the Theologian instead of about God.

I'm not surprised. Despite the ELCA daughter-in-law, my knowledge of Lutherans is primarily Apostolic Lutheran (Finnish Apostolic Lutheran when I was growing up). Therefore, I'm very comfortable with the pietist thread in Lutheran theology. I'd not heard the term "I theology" before but I love the idea of using it for some much more recent, non-Lutheran theologians. I can see why the term might be used re:Schleiermacher but would argue against it through the principle of giving a charitable reading.

Christian Alexander

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1278511#Comment_1278511

HI MJ that does help a lot. It does raise a few questions. What definition of religion did Schleiermacher refer to? I am curious to see how I can interpret the biblical text by Schleiermacher. How does Schleiermacher see Christology?

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1278704#Comment_1278704

Sorry but my knowledge of the history of Bible interpretation is not sufficient for me to know that. For his Christology, I am not a theologian and nearly all my theological knowledge is liturgical theology and Catholic/Orthodox not Lutheran. For interpreting a text as he would, while I remember what contributions major Bible interpreters made, I don't remember what the base from which they started was - especially for Protestant figures. If I use the prompt "If I wanted to replicate study of a Bible passage as Schleiermacher would have studied it, what questions should I ask?", I get very different answers -- both appropriate in their own way. One emphasizes the distinctives, the other is more wholistic. Some balance of the two is the most accurate.

Bard said:

Friedrich Schleiermacher's approach to biblical interpretation emphasized the importance of subjective experience and religious feeling in understanding the text. To replicate Schleiermacher's study of a Bible passage, you should ask questions that encourage personal reflection and engagement with the passage's message. Here are some key questions to consider:

1. What is my initial emotional response to this passage?

Schleiermacher believed that the Bible should evoke a sense of absolute dependence on God, a feeling of being connected to something greater than oneself. Pay attention to your emotional reactions as you read the passage, whether they are feelings of awe, comfort, sadness, or something else entirely.

2. How does this passage relate to my own experiences of God or the divine?

Schleiermacher emphasized the importance of individual religious experiences in shaping one's understanding of Scripture. Reflect on how the passage connects to your own personal experiences of faith, spirituality, or encounters with the divine.

3. What does this passage reveal about the nature of God?

Schleiermacher's theology centered on the concept of God as absolute dependence. Examine how the passage portrays God's character, attributes, and relationship with humanity.

4. What is the significance of this passage in the context of the overall biblical narrative?

Consider how the passage fits into the broader story of God's interaction with humanity as revealed in the Bible. How does it contribute to the overall message and themes of Scripture?

5. How does this passage challenge my own understanding of God, faith, or the Christian life?

Schleiermacher believed that encountering Scripture should prompt a reassessment of one's beliefs and values. Reflect on how the passage challenges your existing assumptions about God, faith, or the way you live your life.

By asking these questions and engaging in personal reflection, you can approach biblical interpretation in a way that aligns with Schleiermacher's emphasis on subjective experience and religious feeling.

ChatGPT said:

To approach the study of a Bible passage in a manner similar to Friedrich Schleiermacher, a key figure in hermeneutics and theology, you might consider the following questions:

1. Textual Analysis:

   • What are the linguistic nuances and historical contexts of the original language of the passage?
   • How does the passage fit into the broader literary and historical context of the Bible?

2. Hermeneutical Considerations:

   • What are the underlying principles and presuppositions influencing the interpretation of the text?
   • How does the passage contribute to the overall theological themes of the Bible?

3. Subjective Experience:

   • How does the passage evoke emotional and subjective responses?
   • In what ways does the passage speak to the existential concerns of individuals?

4. Community Context:

   • How has the passage been interpreted and understood within various religious traditions and communities?
   • What role does the passage play in shaping the identity and beliefs of a religious community?

5. Religious Experience:

   • How might the passage impact the religious experience of individuals or communities?
   • What insights does the passage offer into the nature of faith and spirituality?

6. Cultural and Historical Analysis:

   • How has the passage been interpreted and understood in different historical periods and cultural contexts?
   • What social and cultural factors might have influenced interpretations of the passage over time?

7. Comparative Analysis:

   • How does the passage relate to similar themes or narratives in other religious or philosophical traditions?
   • Are there parallels or contrasts with other texts or theological perspectives?

8. Practical Application:

   • How can the insights gained from the study of this passage inform ethical and practical aspects of life?
   • What guidance or principles can be drawn from the passage for personal or communal living?

Remember, Schleiermacher emphasized the importance of understanding the historical and cultural context, as well as the subjective experience of the interpreter. This approach seeks to engage with the text in a holistic manner, considering both its historical roots and its impact on the lived experience of individuals and communities.

Bing Copilot said:

Friedrich Schleiermacher, often referred to as “the father of modern theology,” had a unique approach to studying the Bible12. If you wanted to study a Bible passage as Schleiermacher might have, you could consider the following questions:

1. Understanding the Human States: How does this passage describe human states? What emotions, attitudes, and behaviors are depicted, and how do they reflect the human condition1?
2. Conception of Divine Attributes and Modes of Action: What does this passage reveal about God’s attributes and actions? How does God interact with humanity and the world1?
3. Utterances Regarding the Constitution of the World: What does this passage say about the nature of the world and its relationship with the divine1?
4. Historical Context: What is the historical context of this passage? How might the cultural and societal norms of the time have influenced its content2?
5. Interpretation of Jesus and Salvation: How does this passage present Jesus and the concept of salvation3?

Remember, Schleiermacher’s method was not just intellectual but also practical3. He sought to reconcile the criticisms of the Enlightenment with traditional Protestant Christianity2. Therefore, it’s also important to consider how the passage speaks to you personally and how it can be applied in contemporary life.

The truth of the matter is you must immerse yourself in the original texts of Schleiermacher in order to find the answer.