Free Religious Sourcebook: A Collection of General Principles on the Content and Aims of Free Religion (1844–1928)

by Lothar Geis Lukasz Liniewicz Pascal Schilling

Description

English translation of the complete Freireligiöse Quellensammlung (1844–1928), edited by Lothar Geis. The historical texts present differing approaches to religious freedom, conscience, morality, science and community.

Available as EPUB and PDF, with source references and restrained translator’s notes. The PDF is a newly typeset reading edition; its pagination differs from the German original.

Table of contents 384 entries

Free Religious Sourcebook — A Collection of General Principles on the Content and Aims of Free Religion
Publication details:
Georg Schneider: The Free Religious Movement — An Introduction (1904)
1. German Catholicism
Johannes Ronge — Open Letter
1. A Catholic Priest’s Judgment on the Holy Robe of Trier
General Principles and Provisions of the German Catholic Church
1. I. Provisions concerning doctrine
2. II. Provisions concerning the outward form of worship and pastoral care
3. III. Provisions concerning congregational life and the congregational constitution
4. IV. Provisions concerning general church assemblies (councils)
The Protestant Friends and the free congregations
The Federation of Free Religious Congregations in Germany
1. Constitution of the Federation of Free Religious Congregations
  1. 1. Name
  2. 2. Principle
  3. 3. Purpose
  4. 4. Membership
  5. 5. Federal assembly
  6. 6. Rules of the federal assembly
  7. 7. Extraordinary assemblies
  8. 8. Resolutions
  9. 9. Federal executive committee
  10. 10. The federal executive committee
  11. 11. Federal treasury
2. The Further Organisation and Constitution of the Free Religious Congregations
3. Doctrine and Practices of the Free Religious Congregations
1844 — Johannes Ronge: To My Fellow Believers and Fellow Citizens
Czerski: On the Religious Principles of the Christian Apostolic Catholic Congregation (1887)
1845 — Preliminary Draft of a Confession of Faith by Johannes Ronge
1845 — Report from the “Hamburger Neue Zeitung”
1845 — Gottfried Keller and German Catholicism
1. To the Official Christians
1845 — Trustful and Urgent Petition of Catholic Residents of the Town of Offenbach a.M. to the Most Reverend Bishop Dr P. L. Kaiser of Mainz for Assistance and Leadership against the Enemies of Catholic Christianity
1846 — Eduard Baltzer on the Aims of the Free Congregations
1847 — Robert Blum: The “Lofty Goal”: The “Universal Union of Humanity”!
1847 — Principles of the Free Church — Formulated by the Congregation at Breslau
1875 — Malwida von Meysenburg
1. From Memoirs of an Idealist
1850 — Anonymous: Lisbeth and Katherine, or Instructive Conversations between Women on Religious Freedom
1. Preface
2. First Conversation
3. Second Conversation
4. Third Conversation
5. Fourth Conversation
6. Fifth Conversation
7. Sixth Conversation
8. Seventh Conversation
  1. To the Jesuits
1851 — Pastoral Letter of the Most Reverend Wilhelm Emmanuel, Bishop of Mainz
1. To the Clergy and Faithful of His Diocese at the Beginning of Lent 1851
1851 — Christian Scholz: To Wilhelm Emmanuel, Baron von Ketteler, Bishop of Mainz
1851 — Aims of the German Catholic Congregation of Frankfurt
Wilhelm Busch — Quotation from His Memoirs
1. By Me, About Me (1893)
1851 — Quotations from Georg Weigelt
1. The Local German Catholic Congregation, According to the Lectures of Its Preacher Weigelt
  1. It has renounced the Leipzig Confession.
  2. It has renounced Christianity altogether.
  3. It also rejects the truths that have hitherto formed the foundations not only of Christianity but of all religions.
  4. 1. There is no personal God outside the world.
  5. 2. There is no divine providence; humanity must administer its office.
  6. 3. There is no redemption such as Christianity teaches.
  7. Humanity must redeem itself.
  8. 4. There is no personal survival and no judgement after death.
1857 — Leberecht Uhlich: The Religion of Facts
1. But is this really an opposition: facts on one side, religion on the other?
  1. What, then, is religion?
  2. Interjection by the Editor:
1859 — Leberecht Uhlich: A Short Handbook of Free Religion
1. Preface
2. The World
3. Humanity
4. I
5. The Law of Truth
  1. The Law of Truth in the Life of the Soul
  2. The Law of Truth in Its Highest Application
  3. The Law of Truth in Human Relations
6. The Law of Right: Morality in General
7. The Doctrine of Duties
8. The Law of Beauty
  1. The Law of Beauty in General
  2. The Law of Beauty as Fulfilled in Particular Things
  3. The Law of Beauty in Its Eternal Foundation
9. Particular Human Relationships
  1. The Family
  2. The Local Community: [meaning the municipality, the community of the locality]
  3. The State
10. The Future
11. Free Congregations
1859 – Statutes of the Free Religious Society in Magdeburg
1. A. General Provisions
2. B. Particular Provisions
1861 – General Principles and Rules for the Free Religious Congregation in Cologne
1862 – Constitution of the Free Religious Congregation in Berlin
1. § 1
2. § 2
3. § 3
4. § 4
5. § 5
6. § 6
7. §§ 7–10
1872 – Wilhelm Hieronymi: Distinctive Teachings and Fundamental Ideas of the Free Religious Congregations
1. End
1872 – Theses for the Synod of the North German Association of Free Religious Congregations
1. Theses on the Question:
1873 – On the Inscription above the Entrance to the Cemetery of the Berlin Free Religious Congregation
1876 – The Ten Moral Commandments of the Free Religious Community
1877 – Constitution of the Free Religious Congregation in Berlin
1. What Does the Free Religious Congregation Seek?
Käthe Kollwitz – Quotation from Her Memoirs (around 1877)
1878 – Invitation to the Eighth Federal Assembly of the Free Religious Congregations in Germany
1880 (approximately) – Magdeburg Principles
1884 – Eduard Baltzer: Religion
1884 – Georg Schneider: Purpose and Goal of German Catholicism
1884 – Anonymous: Different Views: On the Nature of the Free Religious Congregations
1884 – G. Schäfer – Fundamental Principles of the Berlin Free Religious Congregation: Explained by Its Spokesman and Teacher G. S. Schäfer
1. Preface
2. The Congregation’s Principles
  1. A. Formal Principles
  2. Explanations
  3. II. Freedom
  4. Explanations
  5. (Equal Rights for All)
  6. Explanations
3. B. Substantive Principles
  1. IV. Our Congregation Is Religious
  2. Explanations
  3. V. The Sources of Religion
  4. Explanations
  5. (Practical Morality)
  6. Explanations
4. C. Organisational Principles
  1. Explanations
  2. (Purpose of the Community)
  3. Explanations
  4. (Further Development)
5. Explanations
1885 – G. Schäfer – What Are Germany’s Free Congregations?: An Answer in the Spirit of the Berlin Free Congregation on the Fortieth Anniversary of Its Foundation, by G. S. Schäfer, the Congregation’s Spokesman
1885 – From the Confession of Faith of a Free Congregation – Hanover
1886 – Principles of the Free Protestants in Rhenish Hesse upon Their Entry into the BFGD
1. I. Purpose of the Community
2. II. What Is Religion?
3. III. What Do We Understand by God?
4. IV. Our Position on Jesus and His Teaching
5. V. The Human Being’s Place in the World
6. VI. The Purpose of Human Life in Nature
7. VII. Means of Humanity’s Further Development in Religion and Morality
8. VIII. Attempts to Explain the World
1888 – Principles of the Berlin Humanist Congregation
1. Preface
2. Principles
3. Afterword
1889 – Free Religious Congregation of Munich
1. Principles
1891 – G. S. Schäfer – Principles of the Humanist Congregation of Berlin, with Explanations
1. I. Humanism in contrast to religionism in general
2. II. Humanism as Naturalism
3. III. Humanism as Rationalism
4. IV. Humanism as Socialism
5. V. Humanism as Communalism
6. VI. Humanism as Evolutionism
  1. Concluding Proposition
1885–1910 – Georg Schneider: Thoughts from Sermons and Addresses
1. Unconditional Tolerance and Freedom
2. Personal Responsibility
3. On Eternal Power
4. Immortality
1892 – Principles of the German Catholic (Free Religious) Congregation of Frankfurt
1. Purpose of the Congregation
2. What Is Religion?
3. What Do We Understand by God?
4. Our Position towards Jesus and His Teaching
5. The Position of Human Beings in the World
6. The Purpose of Human Life in the World
7. Means of Further Human Development in Religion and Morality
8. An Attempt to Explain the World
1892 – Principles of the German Catholic (Free Religious) Congregation of Offenbach
1. Principles
1892 – Principles of the Free Congregation of Hanover
1. Principles
1892 – Bruno Wille: Textbook, Part 1
1. Textbook for the Instruction of Young People in Free Congregations, Commissioned by the Free Religious Congregation of Berlin – Part 1
2. Third Conversation – Irrational Belief
3. Fourth Conversation – Free Self-Determination
4. Sixth Conversation – God and Devil
5. Seventh Conversation – Harmony
1892 – Bruno Wille: Textbook, Part 3: Textbook for the Instruction of Young People in Free Congregations, Commissioned by the Free Religious Congregation of Berlin – Part 3
1895 – From the Principles of the German Catholic (Free Religious) Congregation of Frankfurt am Main
1895 – Carl Scholl: On the Common Goal of the Federation of Free Religious Congregations
1898 – Georg Schneider: Guide to Religious Instruction in Free Religious Congregations
1. The Content of Religion
  1. I. Human Beings and Their Fellow Human Beings
  2. II. The World and God, or the Modern Worldview
  3. III. The Free Religious Congregation
1900 – Leaflet of the Free Religious Congregation of Wiesbaden
1. Why Do You Remain in Your Church Community?
  1. 1. Do You Believe What Your Church Teaches?
  2. 2. Do You Have an Occupation That Makes Remaining in Your Church Community a Duty?
  3. 3. Do You Fear for Your Social Position If You No Longer Belong to a Confessional Church Community?
  4. 4. Do You Fear Hurting Your Family by Leaving the Church?
  5. 5. Do You Have Children Whose Future You Think You Would Endanger by Leaving the Church?
1901 – P. Drews: Positions of Free Religious Congregations
1. The Concept of Religion
2. The Conception of God
3. The Faith of Free Religious People
4. On the Worldview
5. Positions and Statements on Christianity, Jesus and the Church
1903 – Wiedmann’s Motion to Reformulate the Principles of the BFGD (Motion by Delegate Wiedmann of Apolda to Reformulate the Principles of the Federation of Free Religious Congregations in Germany)
1. What We Want and What We Believe
1903 – Motion by the Free Religious Congregation of Magdeburg to Reformulate the Principles of the Federation (BFGD)
1904 – Georg Schneider: Summary from the Textbook for Religious and Moral Instruction in Free Religious Congregations
1911 – What Is the German Catholic (Free Religious) Congregation of Wiesbaden, and What Does It Want?
1. The Nature of the Congregation
2. Examination of the Confirmation Pupils
1911 – Confession of the Free Religious Congregation of Gotha
Before 1914 – Gustav Tschirn: Confession of Faith
Before 1914 – Gustav Tschirn: My Confession of Faith
1913 – Bruno Wille: Wisdom of Life
1. An Interpretation of the Meaning of the Universe
  1. Introduction
  2. 1. The Two Trees in the Garden of Eden
  3. 2. True Enrichment
  4. 3. The Hero’s Surrender
  5. 4. The Significance of Trust in a Worldview
  6. 5. The Inwardness of the Universe
  7. 6. All Existence Is Experience
  8. 7. Nothing Higher Could Arise from a Brute World-Being
  9. 8. The Unconscious and the Threshold of Consciousness
  10. 9. Humanity as an Organism
  11. 10. The Consciousness of Genius
  12. 11. The Significance of Evil
  13. 12. Death and Immortality
  14. 13. The Better Self or Universal Self
  15. 14. The Right of the Natural in Striving Higher
Before 1914 – Hermann Köstlin: Noble Humanity
1. Free Religious Textbook
2. The Modern Worldview
  1. 1. Our Earth and the World
  2. 2. The Human Being
  3. 3. The Origin and Development of Religion
  4. 4. The Religion of the Modern Human Being
  5. 5. Life and Death
1917 – Arthur Drews: Guiding Principles of Free Religion
1. What Is Religion?
2. What, Then, Does Religion Mean?
3. What Is the Essential Core of All Religious Life?
4. May God Be Identified with Nature?
5. What Are God’s Attributes?
6. How Does God Relate to the World?
7. Can God’s Existence Be Proved?
8. How Does the World Relate to God?
9. What, Accordingly, Is the World?
10. How Is Irrational Content of the World Compatible with a World Rational in Its Content?
11. How Are Suffering and Evil Compatible with the World as an Appearance of God?
12. How Does the World Relate to the Human Being?
13. How Does the Human Being Relate to God?
14. How Does the Human Being Relate to Other Human Beings?
15. Is There a Human Soul?
16. Is the Human Soul Immortal?
17. What Is Meant by Human Freedom?
18. How Does the Self Relate to the Ego?
19. What Does Moral Action Mean?
20. Does the Human Being Need Redemption? What Does It Consist In, and How Is It Attained?
21. Does the Human Being Need a Mediator for His Redemption?
22. What Does Grace Mean?
23. How Does Redemption Appear to Human Consciousness?
24. How Does Free Religion Relate to Mysticism?
25. What Has Free Religion to Offer Its Adherents?
26. Can the Adherent of Free Religion Pray?
27. End
1917 – Georg Pick: Cosmic Development
1918 – Constitution of the Free Religious State Congregation of Baden
1921 – Arthur Drews: Draft Confession: Free Religion, Proposals for Further Developing the Idea of the Reformation
1921 – Resolution of the Federal Assembly of Free Religious Congregations and the German Freethinkers’ Federation: At the Freethinkers’ Congress in Hanover
1921 – Gustav Tschirn – Christianity, Democracy and Socialism
The 1920s (after 1920) – Hermann Köstlin: Free Religion
1. The Principles of the Free Religious Congregation
  1. 2. We regard reason as the supreme guide for all human thought and, in religious matters too, can acknowledge only what proves true before reason.
  2. 3. We therefore esteem science and constantly endeavour, with its help, to further our religious and moral understanding.
  3. 4. For us, religion is the innermost concern of the human heart; we therefore reject all compulsion in matters of belief and conscience.
  4. 5. We esteem the Bible as the record of the Jewish and Christian religions, but regard it as a human book, not a divine one; it therefore possesses no authority for us in religious or moral matters.
  5. 6. We know nothing of a divinity and therefore reject every definite belief in God; in particular, we reject belief in miracles, which contradicts nature’s conformity to law.
  6. 7. We will not be directed towards a hereafter; we human beings can strive for good and seek our happiness only on this earth.
  7. 8. History shows us that all the good humanity possesses today has come about through human strength; we too can therefore attain the good we desire only through our own moral striving.
  8. 9. We act well when we can wish all people to act as we do; good is what serves the welfare of the individual and the whole.
  9. 10. Our religion is thus faith in good and the will to good.
1924 – Erich Schramm: Fundamental Questions of Free Religion
1. 1. What does Free Religious mean?
2. 2. Why do we call ourselves free within religion?
3. 3. Why can a Free Religious person not belong to a church?
4. 4. Is a Free Religious person then bound to nothing at all?
5. 5. What does this moral nature of humanity mean?
6. 6. Why do we call ourselves religious?
7. 7. What is this true essence of religion?
8. 8. What higher powers are meant here?
9. 9. But what if no way out, no rescue through outward nature is possible any longer, as in death?
1925 – Fundamental Principles of the Free Religious Congregation of Leipzig
1. Our Goals
2. Our Tasks
3. Our Demands
4. Our Methods of Work
1926 – The Religious Outlook of the Free Religious Movement
1. Professor Dr Arthur Drews, Karlsruhe
2. University Professor Dr J. M. Verweyen, Bonn
3. Gustav Tschirn, Wiesbaden
4. Pastor Clemens Taesler, Frankfurt am Main
5. Rudolf Wahlbaum, Alzey
6. Dr Georg Pick, Mainz
7. Erich Schramm, Ludwigshafen
8. Dr Wilhelm Hager, Munich
9. Ludwig Keibel, Pirmasens
10. Otto Maria Saenger, Karlsruhe
1926 – Emil Felden – The Commandments Life Taught
1. By Emil Felden, Bremen
1927 – Erich Schramm – Questions and Answers
1. By Erich Schramm
1927 – Gustav Tschirn – To Nature
1. Modelled on the Lord’s Prayer, by Gustav Tschirn, Wiesbaden
1927 – From the Free Religious Congregation of Nordhausen
1. (1927)
Balduin Reichenwallner
1. My Faith
1928 Georg Pick – Outlines of a Free Religious Worldview: In Fifty Questions and Answers
1. 1. Why do we call ourselves Free Religious?
2. I. Freedom
  1. 2. What does freedom mean to us?
  2. 3. What do we feel free from in moral matters?
  3. 4. What do we feel free from in religious matters?
  4. 5. What leads the free person to good?
  5. 6. How does the free person acquire their religious conviction?
  6. 7. What powers of life shape free religion?
  7. 8. What demands does freedom place upon us?
3. II. Religion
  1. 9. Why do we call ourselves religious?
  2. 10. How is this to be understood?
  3. 11. Where do we find such creative powers?
  4. 12. What are the living powers within us?
  5. 13. From what do the world’s creative powers spring?
  6. 14. What does this reverence mean?
  7. 15. What does this trust do for our lives?
4. III. Truth
  1. 16. What gives us the right to call our religion the religion of truth?
  2. 17. What separates us from other religions that claim truth?
  3. 18. How do we gain knowledge of truth?
  4. 19. How does our faith relate to scientific knowledge?
  5. 20. Does science still leave room for religious life?
  6. 21. What does a religion of truth demand of us all?
  7. 22. What can help us in this?
5. IV. The Spirit of the Present
  1. 23. In what respect is our religion the religion of the present?
  2. 24. How does our thinking differ from the religions of the past?
  3. 25. How does our feeling differ from the old religions?
  4. 26. How does this manifest itself in our will?
  5. 27. How do we judge the religions of the past?
  6. 28. What relationship does the Free Religious person have with humanity’s inherited religions?
  7. 29. How should the person of the present stand in life?
6. V. Orientation towards This World
  1. 30. In what principal respect does our religion of the present distinguish itself from the religions of the past?
  2. 31. How is the idea of God represented in a religion of this world?
  3. 32. Is there life after death?
  4. 33. Where do we come from?
  5. 34. Where are we going?
  6. 35. How do we find the goal towards which we wish to strive?
  7. 36. Do these ideals point towards a hereafter?
7. VI. The Social Outlook
  1. 37. How does our religion chiefly serve the perfecting of life?
  2. 38. What is the essence of a social outlook?
  3. 39. How does the social outlook express itself in life?
  4. 40. How do we bring people closer to this purpose?
  5. 41. What stands above struggle?
  6. 42. What is the prerequisite for love’s realisation?
  7. 43. What do we hope for the future of the human race?
8. VII. Community
  1. 44. What, then, is the nature of our Free Religious community?
  2. 45. How is this to be understood?
  3. 46. How is such a community possible?
  4. 47. How has this unity of religious outlook formed?
  5. 48. What purpose does community serve for us?
  6. 49. Does our community also have significance for the realisation of our goals for humanity?
  7. 50. What is the goal of our Free Religious community?
Bibliography
Source Notes
Translator’s Notes