Wilhelm Gräb
Practical Theology as Theology of Religion. Schleiermacher’s Understanding of Practical Theology as a Discipline
Friedrich Schleiermacher is the founding father of practical theology as
one of the disciplines of theological studies. To understand this, one has to
consider his broader concept of theology and his understandings of religion and
of Christianity. We will therefore discuss all of these matters in this essay,
and will do so especially in regard to Schleiermacher’s
Brief Outline of
Theology as a Field of Study . The thesis is that
Schleiermacher, understanding practical theology as a technical discipline, overcame
tendencies to form practical theology as a type of applied science. In his construction
of theology, Schleiermacher conceived the entirety of theology as a
practical science. Within that larger context, practical theology involves reflection
particularly on rules of Church leadership, but is based upon a larger theory of
Christianity within modern society and is developed in cooperation with all
other theological disciplines.
International Journal of Practical Theology, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1430-6921
Volume: 9, 12/2005
Pages: 181 - 196
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