Historical Writings as Art For Herder historical writing was a form of art, not a science: the “wahre historische Künstler” was the “Schöpfer einer Welt von Begebenheiten” as a “schönen Ganzen” (true historical artist; creator of a world of events; a beautiful whole). Accordingly, “Muster der Geschichte sind eher gewesen als Regelneiner historischen Kunst” (For an art of history it has always been more a matter of exemplars than of rules) (p. 71) Author with Historicity For Herder, the uniqueness of an author was always a function of his historicity. (p. 72) Am meisten ists nötig, daß man von einem Autor abzieht, was seiner Zeit oder der Vorwelt zugehört, und was er der Nachwelt übrig läßt. Er trägt die Fesseln seines Zeitalters, dem er sein Buch zum Geschenke darbeut: er steht in seinem Jahrhundert, wie ein Baum in dem Erdreich, in das er sich gewurzelt, aus welchem er Säfte ziehet, mit welchem er seine Gliedmaßen der Entstehung decket. Je mehr er sich um seine Welt verdient mac...
Adolf von Harnack (1851–1930) was a prominent German theologian and church historian associated with the liberal Protestant tradition. His apologetics sought to defend Christianity by emphasizing its historical essence, ethical core, and relevance for modern life, stripped of what he considered unnecessary dogmatic and metaphysical elements. His approach was rooted in historical-critical methods and sought to make Christianity intellectually credible to modern audiences. Key Features of Harnack’s Apologetics : 1. Focus on the Historical Jesus : Harnack argued that the essence of Christianity lay in the life and teachings of the historical Jesus, not in later theological developments or dogmas. He emphasized Jesus as a moral teacher and a bringer of the "Kingdom of God," focusing on Jesus' ethical and spiritual message rather than miracles or metaphysical claims. This aligned with his belief that theology should return to the simple, original gospel preached by Jesus and...
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