Thandeka
Schleiermacher’s Affekt Theology
Friedrich Schleiermacher made a biological fact of the
human organism a foundational fact of his practical theology. He called this
fact of human nature Affekt (affect) and defined it as the physical
side of spiritual life. Schleiermacher used his work on aesthetics to delineate
this ‘affective’ fact of human experience. By so doing, Schleiermacher explained
the foundation of his theological revolution in Protestant thought in
non-theological terms.
The lack of scholarly attention to this
non-theological aspect of Schleiermacher’s theological work, his Affekt
Theology , has made it difficult for scholars to understand the
organic, structural foundation of modern theology as established by Schleiermacher.
Scholars have also mistakenly concluded that his practical theology lacks an
adequate experiential component. As I demonstrate in this essay, attention to
the actual affective references in Schleiermacher’s practical theology will give
scholars a concrete way to describe the link between theological praxis and the
organic structures of human experience.
International Journal of Practical Theology, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1430-6921
Volume: 9, 12/2005
Pages: 197 - 216
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