In this paper I explore humility as a paradigm, with reference to recent debates over the morality and rationality of emotions, and to the relation between religion and emotion. In Ancient Greek ethics, humility did not yet play a role; with the rise of Christianity, however, it becomes one of the cardinal virtues -- only to disappear again with the onset of modernity. Against a culture-pessimistic interpretation of this development, this article begins by characterising the relation between virtue and emotion, (...) before reconstructing the inner rationality of humility and showing how it can be traced through several transformations to a modern ethics of responsibility. Against this background, possible manifestations of the humble attitude in the present are made plausible. (shrink)

Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral - Halle-Wittenberg) under the title: Die Krise des theologischen Wahrheitsbegriffs.

Das Thema Christentum und Judentum lässt sich heute nur interdisziplinär bearbeiten, also in Zusammenarbeit von Theologie, Religionswissenschaft, Judaistik, Literaturwissenschaft, Geschichte und Philosophie. Aus allen genannten Disziplinen fallen wesentliche Perspektiven auf die Position Schleiermachers. Der Kongressband vereinigt sämtliche Vorträge, die im Rahmen des Plenums und der drei Sektionen gehalten wurden.

Nowadays Troeltsch's discussion of Calvinism is usually – if unjustly – regarded as a confessional typology which has had its day. An analysis of the relevant texts from Troeltsch's time in Heidelberg both clarifies his understanding in the context of his theory of Protestantism and at the same time its distinctiveness from Weber's famous study of Calvinism. Troeltsch's discussion can then be reconstructed as a good example of the application of his historical method. The interdependence of factors emerging from the (...) history of ideas and social history reveals an ambivalent and distinct history of development which moves beyond confessional boundaries. On this basis Protestantism is shown to have a constructive relationship to western social ideas including democracy, human rights and pluralist society. In distinction to the over-emphasis on Lutheranism of his contemporaries, Troeltsch regards this series of developments as the contribution of Calvinism to a religiously-based culture of responsibility under the conditions of modernity. (shrink)

Pope Benedict XVI's lecture at the University of Regensburg recently showed that liberal theology is not only an epoch of the past. Now it also serves as a disputable alternative among rivalling understanding of Christianity. This essay, however, demonstrates its timeliness on the basis of Wilhelm Herrmann's and Rudolf Otto's analyses of Luther, which have received little attention in research concerning liberal theology. Far beyond hero worship, their interpretations can be regarded as exemplary forms of a methodically deliberated culture of (...) remembrance. It also plays a central role in both authors' oeuvres. In addition, this case study demonstrates that the reconstruction of intellectual history and systematic concepts can be mutually relevant and productive. While Herrmann receives important contributions from Luther for a contemporary Christology, Otto develops a theory of religious experience in a nutshell based on the reformer's view of the Holy Spirit. (shrink)

Anlässlich des 75. Todestages von Rudolf Otto veranstaltete die Philipps-Universität Marburg einen Internationalen Kongress. Ottos Religionsbegriff basiert auf der Erfahrung des Heiligen. Das stellt für die gegenwärtigen Debatten in der Theologie, der Religionsphilosophie, der Religionsästhetik und schließlich auch wieder in der Religionswissenschaft ein beachtliches Anregungspotenzial bereit. Der Band dokumentiert die wichtigsten Ergebnisse der gegenwärtigen Beschäftigung mit Otto in internationaler Perspektive.