Emanuel Hirsch

Emanuel Hirsch ( born June 14, 1888 in Bentwisch at Wittenberg; † July 17, 1972 in Göttingen ) was a Protestant theologian.

Theological career

Emanuel Hirsch was the son of a pastor in Brandenburg. His entire study time spent Hirsch at the University of Berlin. His teachers were, inter alia, Karl Holl and Adolf von Harnack. He belonged to the Wingolfsbund, a Christian fraternity. There he met Paul Tillich, with whom he was also a short time friends. After habilitation (1915 ) and lecturer time at the University of Bonn since 1921 he was professor of church history at the University of Göttingen from 1936 also of Systematic Theology.

He was Luther and Kierkegaardspezialist. He is best known for his translations of Kierkeggards works that were in use for a long time. In addition, he was a great connoisseur of German idealism. Hirsch's approach is determined by the fact that there is no going back behind the modern question of personal certainty. Against this background, theology can not traditionally authorized dogmas repeat, but must appeal to the conscience of the individual. "Conscience " is a central concept in Hirsch's thinking. Hirsch also dealt with issues such as the history of the New Testament gospel tradition or the nature of the Easter faith. In his later years he worked religious and theological experiences and literature, such as in several novels.

Hirsch's work is extremely versatile and is to this day considered in the theological and philosophical teaching. However, the reception of his work fell short of its potential, which is clearly associated with its active support of the National Socialist ideology.

National Socialism

During the Weimar Republic was stag supporters of the German National Party leader Alfred Hugenberg. He became the spokesmen of the German Christians and theological adviser of the later Reich Bishop Ludwig Müller. Although he initially not even called himself a Nazi, he considered Hitler in the presidential election in 1932 as the only hope of a national " rebirth." After the seizure of power, he wrote:

Has " No single nation in the world such as ours a statesman to whom it is so serious about the Christian; as Adolf Hitler concluded his great speech with a prayer on May 1, the whole world felt the wonderful sincerity in it. "

On November 11, 1933, he was in Leipzig, one of the speakers at the event to the commitment of the professors at German universities and colleges to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi state.

In 1937 Hirsch at the Nazi Party and was a supporting member of the SS He also joined the National Socialist Teachers' Association and the National Socialist People's Welfare.

Hirsch condemned those who supported Hitler were critical, and went so far as to denounce colleagues and students. He had, for example, a decisive role in the dismissal of his Reformed colleagues Karl Barth from the Bonner Magisterium. Shortly after the war he resigned his commission, which he lost the right to a pension. He justified this with health problems. In fact, he was almost blind since 1931, but it is generally believed that he wanted to escape from all things of the denazification with retirement.

Theological writings

  • Fichte's philosophy of religion in the context of overall development philosophy of Fichte, 1914
  • Christianity and History in Fichte's philosophy, 1920
  • The idealistic philosophy and Christianity. Collected Essays. ( = Studies of apologetic seminar. 14th issue. ), Publisher of C. Bertelsmann, Gütersloh 1926.
  • Kierkegaard studies. Second issue. The poet. ( = Studies of apologetics seminar, 31 booklet. ), Publisher of C. Bertelsmann, Gütersloh 1930.
  • Kierkegaard studies. Third issue. The Thinker. First study: Nascent Thinker. ( = Studies of apologetics seminar, 32 booklet. ), Publisher of C. Bertelsmann, Gütersloh 1931.
  • The current intellectual situation in the mirror of philosophical and theological reflection. Academic lectures to the understanding of the German year 1933. Cambridge University Press, Göttingen 1934.
  • The transformation of Christian thinking in the modern era. A reading book. Publisher of JCB Mohr (Paul Siebeck ), Tübingen 1938.
  • Guide to Christian doctrine, 1938
  • Auxiliary book for the study of dogmatics, 1937 (4th edition, 2002 ISBN 3-11-001242-1 )
  • Luther studies, 2 volumes, 1954
  • History of modern evangelical theology in connection with the general movements of European thought, 5 volumes, 1949-54 (5th edition 1975)

Belletristische writings

  • The rear Rosengang: novel., 1954 ( ISBN 3-78-060040-4 Nachdr 1974 )
  • The neungekerbte walking stick. 1955
  • Nothnagel: A Novel. 1956
  • Return to Life: Narration. 1957
  • The Relentless Grace: narrative. 1958
  • Ilse Bill. 1959
  • The bridal procession and other whimsical stories. 1960
  • Stories of the myelin sheath. Narratives. 1963

Political writings

  • The love of country. Fourth, an epilogue enlarged edition, Verlag Hermann Beyer & Söhne, Langensalza 1930.
National Socialist People's Welfare Gerhard Kittel Paul Althaus Ernst Klee Integrated Authority File
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