“True Sons of the Reformation”

The rivalry between religion and philosophy in German culture post-1800, particularly around the Reformation anniversary of 1817 and the tercentennial celebrations of 1830, was shaped by competing interpretations of the Reformation's legacy. The Wartburg Festival of 1817, held at Wartburg Castle—a site significant for Luther’s translation of the gospels during his exile—served as a pivotal moment where students and veterans gathered to reflect on the Reformation's impact. This chapter analyzes how new philosophical and historical ideas, notably in Friedrich Keyser’s Reformations-Almanach (1817, 1819), influenced public discourse. Additionally, it examines late-career works by Hegel and Schleiermacher, revealing how the Reformation was strategically invoked to legitimize intellectual pursuits and gain public and official support.

(Ed.). (2024). “True Sons of the Reformation”. Enlightenment’s Reformation, 187–222. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009494038.009