Wilhelm Bousset

Johann Franz Wilhelm Bousset ( born September 3, 1865 in Lübeck, † March 8, 1920 in Gießen ) was a German Protestant theologian. He was representative of the History of Religions School and taught at Göttingen and Giessen.

Life

Bousset is descendant of a Huguenot family. His father was since 1861 for 37 years at St. Lorenz Lutheran pastor in Lubeck, his mother came from the Lübeck Handelsgärtnerei Steltzner and lard. This family background influenced his life his earnest piety. He studied Protestant theology at the universities of Erlangen, Leipzig and Göttingen. In Erlangen, he joined in the winter semester 1884/85 the Christian fraternity Uttenruthia, where he met Ernst Troeltsch, with whom he lifelong friendship. In his student days he Göttingen joined the fraternity Germania.

Is Bousset 1890 Habilitation at the University of Göttingen in the subject of New Testament theology. After several years working as a private, he was promoted to associate professor in 1896. 1916 Bousset followed a call to the University of Giessen, where he taught until his early death in 1920. From 1897 to 1917 he was co-editor of the Theological Review.

As a member of the Hanoverian synod he excited with the demand for the active participation of women in the Church 's wrath on church circles. He took a particular for the study of theology of women and advocated the need for the rectory of women.

Due to the alienation of the working masses against the Church and religion deeply affected, he was enthusiastic early for the ideas of Friedrich Naumann and joined in 1919 along with his college friend Ernst Troeltsch in the German Democratic Party.

He was married to Marie Bousset born Increase of Lübeck ( 1867-1944 ). His youngest brother was the writer and publisher Hermann Bousset ( 1871-1953 ). He had one sister and one brother Theodor (* 1870).