Wilhelm Herrmann | |
---|---|
Born |
Johann Georg Wilhelm Herrmann 6 December 1846 Melkow |
Died | 2 January 1922 Marburg an der Lahn |
(aged 75)
Occupation | Professor, theologian |
Notable work | The Communion of the Christian God |
Theological work | |
Language | German |
Tradition or movement | Lutheran, Liberalism |
Main interests | Idealism |
Johann Georg Wilhelm Herrmann (6 December 1846 – 2 January 1922) was a Lutheran German theologian.
Hermann taught at Halle before becoming professor at Marburg. Influenced by Kant and Ritschl, his theology was in the idealist tradition, seeing God as the power of goodness. Jesus was to be seen as an exemplary man. Even if Jesus never existed, according to Herrmann, his traditional portrayal was still valid. His book The Communion of the Christian God was seen as a highlight of nineteenth century Liberal Christianity, although he is also credited with preserving certain conservative ideals against liberal revisionism. against which Karl Barth, one of his pupils, and dialectical theology were later to react.