Schleiermacher's Speeches on Religion

This is an accessible introduction to Schleiermacher's influential "Speeches on Religion".

Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher (1768-1834) was a German theologian and philosopher known for his impressive attempt to reconcile the criticisms of the Enlightenment with traditional Protestant orthodoxy. Because of his profound impact on subsequent Christian thought, he is often called the 'Father of Modern Protestant Theology'.

In 1799 he published one of his most influential works, "On Religion: Speeches to its Cultured Despisers" which breathed the spirit of romanticism and for the first time laid out his understanding of religion as Sense and Taste for the Infinite.

Schleiermacher's Speeches are read each year by countless undergraduate and graduate students, yet there is no lively, accessible, and trustworthy book to which they can turn to guide them through its difficulties and into its insights.

This Reader's Guide meets this need by walking readers through each of the Speeches, setting them in context, and exhibiting their insights and contemporary relevance. "Continuum Reader's Guides" are clear, concise and accessible introductions to key texts in literature and philosophy. Each book explores the themes, context, criticism and influence of key works, providing a practical introduction to close reading, guiding students towards a thorough understanding of the text.

They provide an essential, up-to-date resource, ideal for undergraduate students.