Schleiermacher: The Psychology of Christian Faith and Life

Friedrich Schleiermacher is widely reputed to be the father of modern theology, as an evangelical (gospel-oriented) liberal. Amazingly, Schleiermacher anticipated much thought in the twentieth century and beyond, notably in depictions of human functioning. In this work, Professor Tice first offers an orientation to readers’ understanding of this religiously informed outlook. He then enters into a dialogue between Schleiermacher, readers and himself, tending to examine a Christmas sermon that enables Tice to comment on various psychological features of that outlook. Therein emphasis is placed on what is old in the human condition and what is new because God has sent Jesus, the Redeemer of humankind, into the world. This account enables reflections on the great theologian’s reception and influence since his lifetime (1768-1834). Then he seeks to clarify major issues in this great theologian’s thought, focusing first on his popular dialogue On Religion. He ends with a psychological account of Schleiermacher’s own descriptions of his inner life.