Lutherrenaissance: Past and Present (Forschungen zur Kirchen- und Dogmengeschichte, 106)

This volume approaches the current scholarly interest in Luther from the distinctive perspective of the Lutherrenaissance. Centered in Berlin at the turn of the twentieth century the Lutherrenaissance is significant for contemporary discussion because it shaped the reception of Luther and Lutheran theology for the rest of the century. Yet contemporary Luther scholarship, while inheriting the Lutherrenaissance's historical and conceptual categories, is also characterized by new approaches to Luther, specifically in recent years with a global orientation. While the subject of this volume is inspired by the original Lutherrenaissance, it surveys new ways in which Luther is studied in distinct and unprecedented contexts. This project represents an international cooperation between Northwestern University and Aarhus University. We are grateful to both universities for their hospitality and generous funding of two conferences, the first in Aarhus in October 2011, the second in Evanston in April 2012. The Evanston conference featured Michael Massing's work on Luther. Massing, whose book on the rivalry between Luther and Erasmus is forthcoming with HarperCollins, graciously consented to a robust discussion of his portrayal of Luther. We thank the authors who contributed their papers to this volume, Volker Henning Drecoll and Volker Leppin, editors of the series Forschungen für Kirchenund Dogmengeschichte at Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht for consenting to publish this volume in the series, and Jörg Persch and Christoph Spill, editors at Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, for facilitating the book's publication, the latter also for assistance in the troubleshooting inevitably connected to bilingual publication. We are grateful to Jan Dietrich for assisting with the German abstracts and to Lene Kristoffersen for help in formatting the manuscript. Richard Kieckhefer drew our attention to the fifteenth-century image of Christ's resurrection from the triptych at the Cathedral in Erfurt. Heinrich Assel and Arnold Wiebel tracked down the historic photo taken at the 1928 meeting of the Swedish-German Luther Convention in Uppsala. We recognize and are deeply grateful for Ron Thiemann's inspiring scholarship on Luther's theology. Ron passed away in November 2012. We thank the editors of I. B. Taurus for the permission to publish this version of chapter one of The Humble Sublime: Secularity and the Politics of Belief. A fuller account of Thiemann's understanding of sacramental realism is provided in this book published by I. B. Tauris in 2013. This Volume Approaches The Current Scholarly Interest In Luther From The Distinctive Perspective Of The Lutherrenaissance. Centered In Berlin At The Turn Of The Twentieth Century The Lutherrenaissance Is Significant For Contemporary Discussion Because It Shaped The Reception Of Luther And Lutheran Theology For The Rest Of The Century. Yet Contemporary Luther Scholarship, While Inheriting The Lutherrenaissance's Historical And Conceptual Categories, Is Also Characterized By New Approaches To Luther, Specifically In Recent Years With A Global Orientation. While The Subject Of This Volume Is Inspired By The Original Lutherrenaissance, It Surveys New Ways In Which Luther Is Studied In Distinct And Unprecedented Contexts-- Introduction / Christine Helmer -- Die Lutherrenaissance In Deutschland Von 1900 Bis 1960 : Herausforderung Und Inspiration / Heinrich Assel -- Gewissen Oder Gebet : Die Rezeption Der Römerbriefvorlesung Luthers Bei Karl Holl Und Rudolf Hermann / Christine Svinth-værge Põder -- Albrecht Ritschls Rückgriff Auf Die Reformation / Peter Widmann -- Mysticism In The Lutherrenaissance / Else Marie Wiberg Pedersen -- Adolf Von Harnack And Karl Holl On Luther At The Origins Of Modernity / Peter Grove -- Resources And Dead Ends Of The German Lutherrenaissance : Karl Holl And The Problems Of Gift, Sociality, And Anti-eudaemonism / Bo Kristian Holm -- Luther, Apostle Of Freedom? : Liberal Protestant Interpretations Of Luther / Jörg Lauster -- Sacramental Realism : Martin Luther At The Dawn Of Modernity / Ronald F. Thiemann -- Luther, History, And The Concept Of Religion / Christine Helmer -- Political Theology After Luther : Contemporary German Perspectives / Heinrich Assel -- Charity [crossed Out] Terror Begins At Home : Luther And The Terrifying And Killing Law / Marit Trelstad -- Luther On Reserve : Reading The Torgau Sermon On Christ's Descent Into Hell And The Resurrection (1532) In North America / Allen G. Jorgenson. Edited By Christine Helmer And Bo Kristian Holm. Contributions From Two International Conferences, The First At Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark In October 2011, The Second At Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois In April 2012. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 241-244) And Indexes. 10 English, 3 German Contributions; Summaries In German Or English.

This volume makes a distinctive contribution to the upcoming 500th anniversary of Luther's reformation by looking back to the previous centennial in 1917 and tracing forward the enduring impact of the questions raised by Lutheran scholars then to contemporary research in religious studies, history, and theology. The great flourishing of interest in Luther's religious experience and thought in Berlin at the turn of the twentieth century was known as the Lutherrenaissance, an extraordinarily generative moment of scholarly creativity within the Lutheran tradition. Thinkers such as Holl, Harnack and Otto took up questions that would reverberate throughout twentieth century religious and theological inquiry, on the nature of history, for instance, dialectical theology, and the question of mysticism in religious experience. The Lutherrenaissance also planted the seeds of a political theology that contributed to the alliance of Lutheran theologians with National Socialism. Contributors to this volume, attentive to both to the rich contributions of the Lutherrenaissance and its darker consequences, open an unprecedented conversation across the century. Then and now, the study of religion and theology were in periods of transition; then and now, scholars were working at the very foundations of the various disciplines of religious inquiry across the social sciences and humanities. Contributors aim to bring the critical insights of that period to bear on key questions in the study of religion and theology today, with particular attention to the global context within which present day scholars work. It exemplifies new perspectives in Luther scholarship today, the rich and fertile grounds of the Lutheran tradition, in its engagement with unprecedented global circumstances.

"This volume approaches the current scholarly interest in Luther from the distinctive perspective of the Lutherrenaissance. Centered in Berlin at the turn of the twentieth century the Lutherrenaissance is significant for contemporary discussion because it shaped the reception of Luther and Lutheran theology for the rest of the century. Yet contemporary Luther scholarship, while inheriting the Lutherrenaissance's historical and conceptual categories, is also characterized by new approaches to Luther, specifically in recent years with a global orientation. While the subject of this volume is inspired by the original Lutherrenaissance, it surveys new ways in which Luther is studied in distinct and unprecedented contexts"-- Page [7]