{"title":"Albrecht Ritschl on Theology as System: Considering the Structure of Modern Theology","authors":"J. Zachhuber","doi":"10.3138/tjt-2023-0003","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract:Albrecht Ritschl (1822–1889) is a key representative of nineteenth-century German theology. As such, he is emphatic that dogmatics has to be presented in systematic form. This article will analyse in detail the meaning and significance of this demand in Ritschl's work. It will be shown that the systematic shape of theology was for Ritschl a wedge issue that permitted him to subject some individuals and traditions to a sharp critique while aligning himself with others. Among those singled out for criticism are Philipp Melanchthon and Friedrich Schleiermacher. Yet Schleiermacher, ironically, also emerges as perhaps the most important influence on Ritschl's concept of the theological system. The article will conclude with reflections on advantages and disadvantages of developing theology as a system in the tradition Ritschl represented and shaped.","PeriodicalId":41209,"journal":{"name":"Toronto Journal of Theology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1000,"publicationDate":"2023-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Toronto Journal of Theology","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3138/tjt-2023-0003","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"0","JCRName":"RELIGION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Abstract:Albrecht Ritschl (1822–1889) is a key representative of nineteenth-century German theology. As such, he is emphatic that dogmatics has to be presented in systematic form. This article will analyse in detail the meaning and significance of this demand in Ritschl's work. It will be shown that the systematic shape of theology was for Ritschl a wedge issue that permitted him to subject some individuals and traditions to a sharp critique while aligning himself with others. Among those singled out for criticism are Philipp Melanchthon and Friedrich Schleiermacher. Yet Schleiermacher, ironically, also emerges as perhaps the most important influence on Ritschl's concept of the theological system. The article will conclude with reflections on advantages and disadvantages of developing theology as a system in the tradition Ritschl represented and shaped.
期刊介绍:
The Toronto Journal of Theology is a progressive, double-blind refereed journal of analysis and scholarship, reflecting diverse Christian traditions and exploring the full range of theological inquiry: Biblical Studies, History of Christianity, Pastoral Theology, Christian Ethics, Systematic Theology, Philosophy of Religion, and Interdisciplinary Studies. The journal provides a Canadian forum for discussing theological issues in cross-cultural perspectives, featuring pertinent articles, in-depth reviews and information on the latest publications in the field. The Toronto Journal of Theology is of critical interest to academics, clergy, and lay and professional theologians. Anyone concerned with contemporary opinion on theological issues will find the journal essential reading.