Matthew Ryan Robinson – författare

Theological work, whatever else it may be, is always a reflection on social transformations. Not only pastors but also theologians work with the sources of the Christian traditions in one hand and a newspaper in the other. But how are we to understand the relationship between social transformations and the continuously “compromised” development of Christian ideals, as these are measured by doctrinal formulations? And how might a more deeply sociological perspective on this relationship inform theological work? Matthew Ryan Robinson and Evan F. Kuehn approach this question, not by reconstructing a history of ideas, but rather by telling a story about the development of churches and theological institutions. They take the turbulent and dynamic ecclesiological situation of nineteenth-century Germany as a representative case, focusing on the sociological methodological orientation of Friedrich Schleiermacher and Ernst Troeltsch in the context of the rise of theological liberalism, the history of religions, and the German churches’ confrontation with social and political challenges. Robinson and Kuehn then connect this orientation with the sociology of religion of Hans Joas and Niklas Luhmann, arguing for a functional focus in theological research on what doctrines do rather than what the reality behind or in any particular doctrine is.

The rise of populism and nationalism in the West have raised concerns about the fragility of liberal political values, chief among them tolerance. But what alternative social resources exist for cultivating the interpersonal relationships and mutual goodwill necessary for sustainable peace? And how might the lived practices of religious communities carry potential to reinterpret or re-circuit these interpersonal tensions and transform the relationship with the cultural "other" (Fremde) from "foe" (Feind) to "friend" (Freund)? This volume contributes a unique analysis of this shifting discourse by viewing the contemporary socio-political upheaval through the lens of Friedrich Schleiermacher's theology, with a focus on the themes of friendship, interpersonal subjectivity, and sociability as a path beyond mere tolerance. Each of the essays of the volume is written by an internationally recognized scholar in the field, and the volume examines Schleiermacher's novel reflections across multiple social contexts, including North America, Great Britain, western Europe, and South Africa. As these essays demonstrate, the implications of this conversation continue to resound in contemporary religious communities and political discourse.

In der Religionswissenschaft zeichnet sich ein erneuter Fokus auf die Funktion von zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen in der Pflege religiöser Sensibilitäten ab. Diesem Sachverhalt geht Matthew Ryan Robinson in seiner Studie zu Friedrich Schleiermachers "Versuch einer Theorie des geselligen Betragens" nach. In Schleiermachers Ethik ist der Mensch geformt aus innigen, eng miteinander verknüpften Beziehungen zu anderen. Schleiermacher beschreibt diese Geselligkeit als eine natürliche Tendenz, in der der Mensch sich in seiner Unvollkommenheit an den körperlichen und existenziellen Grenzen des Anderen orientiert, um seine eigene Erfahrungen zu vollenden."Die Vollendung der Menschheit" bildet die fundamentale Struktur in Schleiermachers Religionstheorie, als Orientierung an "dem Universum und dem Verhältnis der Menschheit zu ihm". Schleiermacher stellt so Geselligkeit nicht nur als grundlegend für die menschliche Natur dar, sondern auch als inhärent religiös - und potentiell erlösend. Dieser Anspruch und die daraus resultierenden Implikationen sind zentrale Überlegungen Robinsons zu Schleiermachers Ethik, Religionstheorie und Ekklesiologie.