The Mediation of Redemption in Schleiermacher's Glaubenslehre

Abstract:  In §24 of the Glaubenslehre , Friedrich Schleiermacher conceives of a 'provisional antithesis' between Protestantism – which 'makes the individual's relation to the Church dependent on his relation to Christ'– and Catholicism – which 'makes the individual's relation to Christ dependent on his relation to the Church'. This antithesis has been criticized for defining a Protestantism that is inconsistent with the (Protestant) theology of redemption presented elsewhere in the Glaubenslehre . This article seeks to refute this criticism, arguing that while Schleiermacher acknowledges the roles of both Christ and the church in redemption, he ultimately gives theological priority to the former.