032 - XXVII Affinity of Protestantism with Gnosticism and Pantheism

Johann Adam Möhler, a notable professor of theology at Tübingen University, made a significant impact on Christian thought with his groundbreaking work, *Symbolism*, published in 1832. This influential book delves into the doctrines of original sin, grace, and free will as understood by various Christian confessions, igniting a fierce debate across Protestant Europe. Möhler wielded the philosophical insights of Hegel, often referred to as the “Protestant Aquinas,” to challenge Protestant beliefs. His rigorous approach, anchored in facts, texts, and documents, resonated widely, leading to translations in eight languages by 1838, even as he passed away before completing its fifth edition. Amid a divided Catholic Church, with German and Roman factions at odds, Döllinger, a former student of Möhler, famously remarked in 1863 that the former were armed with rifles while the latter relied on bows and arrows. Ultimately, the Romans managed to silence their German counterparts at the First Vatican Council, stifling a fruitful branch of Catholic thought. The time has come to rediscover the German school, and there’s no better starting point than Möhlers *Symbolism*. (Summary by Jeff Allen)