educated at the Moravian schools at Niesky and Barby. Made sceptical
by the newer criticism, he left the Moravian brotherhood and entered
the University of Halle (1787), where he devoted himself with equal
zeal to the study of theology and philosophy. After his ordination
in 1794 he occupied various pulpits until 1803, when he was made a
professor and university preacher at Halle. In 1806 he removed from
Halle to Berlin, becoming the preacher of Trinity Church in 1809
and professor of theology at the newly founded University in 1810,
positions which he filled with marked ability until his death,
February 12, 1834. It was in Berlin that he came into friendly touch
with the leaders of the Romantic school, Tieck, Friedrich Schlegel,
and Novalis, but he did not allow himself to be carried away by their
extravagances. He distinguished himself as a preacher, theologian,
philosopher, and philologist, and, by his study of the sources of
philosophy, added much to the knowledge of its history. Among the
books published during his life-time are: _Addresses on Religion_,
1799; _Monologues_, 1800; _Principles of a Criticism of Previous
Systems of Ethics_, 1803; translations of Plato's _Dialogues_, with
introductions and notes, 1804-28; _The Christian Faith_, 1821-22.
Complete Works, 1834-64.

Schleiermacher's conception of religion is opposed to the
rationalistic theology of the eighteenth century, as well as to the
Kantian moral theology which has remained popular in Germany to
this day. For him religion is not science or philosophy; it does
not consist in theoretical dogmas or rationalistic proofs; neither
theories about religion nor virtuous conduct nor acts of worship are
religion itself; nor is religion based upon a rational moral faith,
as Kant had taught. He bravely took the part of Fichte in the
atheism-controversy, when the great leaders of German culture, Kant,