Spirits of Protestantism reveals how liberal Protestants went from being early-twentieth-century medical missionaries seeking to convert others through science and scripture, to becoming vocal critics
Spirits of Protestantism reveals how liberal Protestants went from being early-twentieth-century medical missionaries seeking to convert others through science and scripture, to becoming vocal critics
A keen student of theology, August Friedrich Gfrörer (1803–61) became professor of history at the University of Freiburg and also sat as a representative in the Frankfurt parliament, agitating for the reunification of Protestantism and Catholicism. This three-volume work, published in 1838, may be regarded as marking the modern period in the Christian study of Judaism. Gfrörer was the first scholar who attempted to recount the history of Palestinian Judaism at the time of Jesus by using primary source material and without pursuing an obvious apologetic or polemic agenda. More than 2,000 pages in length, the work is a formidable scholarly achievement of lasting value in the field of religious studies. Volume 1 accounts for first-century Jewish education and scholarship, and discusses the doctrine of revelation. The author also addresses the Jewish understanding of God and of spirits, angels and demons.
Robert Dale Owen (1801–1877) left Scotland at the age of twenty-four to help run an experimental colony in New Harmony, Indiana, established by this father Robert Owen, the social reformer. While in the United States, he became a prominent proponent of slave emancipation and public education, eventually joining the Indiana legislature before moving on to become a member of the United States Congress, which led to his posting as a diplomat in Naples. In addition to his political interests, Owen was fascinated with the world of spiritualism. In this work, published in 1871, he assesses Protestantism and Catholicism and considers how spiritualism can 'confirm the truths and assure the progress of Christianity'. He goes on to explain at length the characteristics of spiritualism, including the physical manifestations and identity of spirits, as well as his own experience of apparitions.
