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Schleiermacher Contra Lindbeck on the Status of Doctrinal Sentences1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

Georg Behrens
Affiliation:
Department of Religion, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027

Abstract

Lindbeck has devised what he calls a ‘regulative theory’ of doctrinal sentences, which he considers to be superior to its main rivals ‘propositionalism’ and ‘experiential-expressivism’. For Lindbeck, Schleiermacher is the classical expressivist. I argue that Schleiermacher is more properly classified as a propositionalist, though he does have expressivist inclinations. According to Schleiermacher, doctrinal sentences express propositions about God, the world, and human self-consciousness, and they can be the objects of cognitive states. At the same time, there is a sense in which they ‘express’ pious self-consciousness. I also argue that Schleiermacher's account of doctrinal sentences is superior to Lindbeck's, because it provides a better basis for understanding ecumenical dialogue.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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