Wednesday, November 10, 2021

On David Strauss's Das Leben Jesu, kritisch bearbeitet (The Life of Jesus, Critically Examined)

Recently, I discovered or rediscovered this liberal protestant theologian (1808-1874)! Why this famous and controversial work is not better known is strange.

This book still seems to be controversial as there is not even a separate entry on Wikipedia for this influential book. When you Google this title you can find only digital copies of the book, but no discussion, essay, review etc.

I also believe that most if not all of the supernatural stuff written in the Bible about Jesus should be stripped. Without it, Jesus as a human being remains as a towering example of a a highly moral and good character and of a life dedicated to help other people.

"... Strauss was a pioneer in the historical investigation of Jesus. ... Strauss's Das Leben Jesu, kritisch bearbeitet (The Life of Jesus, Critically Examined) was a sensation. While not denying that Jesus existed, Strauss did argue that the miracles in the New Testament were mythical additions with little basis in fact. ...
When Strauss was elected to a chair of theology in the University of Zürich, the appointment provoked such a storm of controversy that the authorities decided to pension him before he began his duties and effigies of Strauss were burnt during Zurich's Shrove Tuesday festival. Strauss donated the pension, 1000 Swiss Francs per year, to the poor. ..."

David Strauss - Wikipedia

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