Wilhelm Bender was professor of systematic theology in Bonn from 1876–1888. Like many of his contemporaries, he steered a course away from mediatory theology via the ‘Ritschlian school’ to liberal theology. His attempt to sublate Darwin's theory of evolution and scientific materialism into an idealistic system of the history of religion and culture set him in sharp opposition to the conservative currents within the Church, costing him his chair. In his efforts to establish a relative absoluteness of Christianity as the (...) highest value discernible in the history of religion he can be seen as a forerunner of Ernst Troeltsch. (shrink)

This study of the reorganisation of the Straßburg theological faculty in the wake of the Franco-Prussian war traces the tormented path of that academic body towards the eventual calling of its own candidate Paul Lobstein to the professorship of lutheran dogmatics. The paper provides detailed insight into the welter of crossfire and intrigue that ensued as proponents of pietism, confessional lutheranism, mediating theology, and liberalism contended with strong-willed theological colleagues and with Bismarck on behalf of the Alsatian faculty. Among others, (...) the young Adolf von Harnack was briefly considered for the post in dogmatic theology. (shrink)