The importance of Protestantism for the emergence of the modern world

The theologian, philosopher and politician Ernst Troeltsch died 100 years ago at the age of just 58. As an outstanding representative of liberal theology, he made it clear that Germany had to follow Western Europe's path to human rights and democracy. His text "The significance of Protestantism for the emergence of the modern world", which is included in this book, is an important analysis of the relationship between Protestantism and modernity. In it, Troeltsch states that although Protestantism "has often greatly and decisively promoted the emergence of the modern world, it is not simply its creator in any of these areas". This contradicted the national Protestant thesis of the birth of the modern world from the work of Luther. What remains for Troeltsch as the effect of Protestantism on modernity is "the religion of seeking God in one's own feelings, experiences, thoughts and will". He emphasises the role of the Anabaptist sects and mystical-spiritualist movements in the development of the modern idea of human rights. Germany's path leads westwards ... In his introduction, Hans-Jürgen Benedict places Troeltsch's writing on Protestantism in the context of his thought. He also asks about the significance of the churches today in view of their dwindling influence.