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Performative Practice : Ernst Troeltsch's Concept(s) of Christianity

Schmiedel, Ulrich LU (2017) p.83-104
Abstract
What is Christianity? Ernst Troeltsch combines theological and sociological accounts of Christianity’s history in order to identify Christianity. But his interdisciplinary conceptualization(s) of Christianity continue to cause frustration and fascination alike, because he draws no clear-cut distinction between what is Christian and what is non-Christian. Countering the assumption that such a distinction is what Troeltsch is after, I analyze and assess Troeltsch’s “What Does ‘Essence of Christianity’ Mean?” (1903/1913) as a hermeneutics of identification which approaches the identity of Christianity by what it does rather than by what it describes. Through his hermeneutics, I argue, Troeltsch anticipates the theorizations of identity so... (More)
What is Christianity? Ernst Troeltsch combines theological and sociological accounts of Christianity’s history in order to identify Christianity. But his interdisciplinary conceptualization(s) of Christianity continue to cause frustration and fascination alike, because he draws no clear-cut distinction between what is Christian and what is non-Christian. Countering the assumption that such a distinction is what Troeltsch is after, I analyze and assess Troeltsch’s “What Does ‘Essence of Christianity’ Mean?” (1903/1913) as a hermeneutics of identification which approaches the identity of Christianity by what it does rather than by what it describes. Through his hermeneutics, I argue, Troeltsch anticipates the theorizations of identity so characteristic of modern and postmodern thought which turn identity into a task. Troeltsch’s concept of Christianity, then, could be conceived of as a performative practice which radically resists any conceptual closure. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
host publication
The Anthem Companion to Ernst Troeltsch
editor
Adair Toteff, Christopher
pages
83 - 104
publisher
Anthem Press
ISBN
9781783082773
9781783082803
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
06c963fa-6d8f-48fa-9e9a-b1685a3871c8
alternative location
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/anthem-companion-to-ernst-troeltsch/performative-practice-ernst-troeltschs-concepts-of-christianity/AB90F012103CC73E0C0AD9557A4875D5
date added to LUP
2024-02-25 14:56:49
date last changed
2024-04-02 14:00:09
@inbook{06c963fa-6d8f-48fa-9e9a-b1685a3871c8,
  abstract     = {{What is Christianity? Ernst Troeltsch combines theological and sociological accounts of Christianity’s history in order to identify Christianity. But his interdisciplinary conceptualization(s) of Christianity continue to cause frustration and fascination alike, because he draws no clear-cut distinction between what is Christian and what is non-Christian. Countering the assumption that such a distinction is what Troeltsch is after, I analyze and assess Troeltsch’s “What Does ‘Essence of Christianity’ Mean?” (1903/1913) as a hermeneutics of identification which approaches the identity of Christianity by what it does rather than by what it describes. Through his hermeneutics, I argue, Troeltsch anticipates the theorizations of identity so characteristic of modern and postmodern thought which turn identity into a task. Troeltsch’s concept of Christianity, then, could be conceived of as a performative practice which radically resists any conceptual closure.}},
  author       = {{Schmiedel, Ulrich}},
  booktitle    = {{The Anthem Companion to Ernst Troeltsch}},
  editor       = {{Adair Toteff, Christopher}},
  isbn         = {{9781783082773}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{83--104}},
  publisher    = {{Anthem Press}},
  title        = {{Performative Practice : Ernst Troeltsch's Concept(s) of Christianity}},
  url          = {{https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/anthem-companion-to-ernst-troeltsch/performative-practice-ernst-troeltschs-concepts-of-christianity/AB90F012103CC73E0C0AD9557A4875D5}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}