Friedrich Schleiermacher quotes

Friedrich Schleiermacher was a German theologian, philosopher, and biblical scholar, often regarded as the "father of modern liberal theology." His works bridged Enlightenment rationalism with Christian faith, deeply influencing theology and philosophy. He shaped modern concepts of religion and helped inspire the study of hermeneutics. Here are 11 of his quotes:

Moreover, in Christ's second discourse, the mode in which the mention of Jonas is understood in Matthew, verse 40, is wholly unsuited to the context and to the application which even there is made of it; and if we do not take this for a later interpolation, for which no adequate inducement suggests itself, it must be considered as an erroneous comment of the reporter, which he has mixed up with Christ's own words, of course without being conscious of it, a thing which might easily happen when his recollection had become dim and confused. In addition to the signs already adduced of Matthew's reporter having been so circumstanced comes the fact, that he omits the little incident related in Luke, which intervenes between Christ's two discourses, namely, the admiring ejaculation of a woman in the crowd and the reply to it.

Friedrich Schleiermacher

No God without a world, and no world without God.

Friedrich Schleiermacher

For when it is the good that is under consideration, and the ethical object is predominant, truth must be considered more in reference to art than science, if, that is, unity is to be preserved in the work generally.

Friedrich Schleiermacher

Now the relation which, in the sphere of nature, being and semblance or sensation bear to one another in this antithesis, is the same as that which in ethics exists between good and pleasure or feeling.

Friedrich Schleiermacher

And, moreover, it is art in its most general and comprehensive form that is here discussed, for the dialogue embraces everything connected with it, from its greatest object, the state, to its least, the embellishment of sensuous existence.

Friedrich Schleiermacher

Miracle is simply the religious name for event. Every event, even the most natural and usual, becomes a miracle, as soon as the religious view of it can be the dominant. To me all is miracle.

Friedrich Schleiermacher

Pitiful, to be sure, is what the pragmatic philosophy of the French and English is. ... They are considered to be so well versed in the knowledge of what man is, despite their failure to speculate on what he should be.

Friedrich Schleiermacher

Oh, that we had our eyes more and more steadily fixt on the risen Savior! Oh, that we could ever be learning more and more from Him to breathe out blessing, as He did when He imparted His Spirit to the disciples! Oh, that we were more and more learning like Him to encourage the foolish and slow of heart to joyful faith in the divine promises, to active obedience to the divine will of their Lord and Master, to the glad enjoyment and use of all the heavenly treasures that He has thrown open to us! Oh, that we were ever speaking more effectively to all connected with us, of the kingdom of God and of our inheritance in it, so that they might see why it was necessary for Christ to suffer, but also into what glory He has gone! These are our desires, and they are not vain desires.

Friedrich Schleiermacher

That which was then our innermost I and Self has now become something far off and strange to us; and the law of divine appointment, which has now through the grace of God become the law of our life, which we love and obey, was then far off and strange.

Friedrich Schleiermacher