describes it as "a book which, it must be admitted, constitutes a danger to the sacred interests of the Church, but which follows the method of endeavouring to produce a reasoned conviction by means of argument. Hence any other method of dealing with it than by meeting argument with argument will appear in the unfavourable light of an arbitrary interference with the freedom of science."
In holding that scientific theology will be able by its own strength to overthrow whatever in Strauss's Life of Jesus deserves to be overthrown, Neander is at one with the anonymous writer of "Aphorisms in Defence of Dr. Strauss and his Work,"[1] who consoles himself with Goethe's saying-
Das Tiichtige, auch wenn es falsch ist, Wirkt Tag fur Tag, von Haus zu Haus; Das Tiichtige, wenn's wahrhaftig ist, Wirkt liber alle Zeiten hinaus.[2]
(Strive hard, and though your aim be wrong, Your work shall live its little day; Strive hard, and for the truth be strong, Your work shall live and grow for aye.)
"Dr. Strauss," says this anonymous writer, "does not represent the author's views, and he on his pait cannot undertake to defend Dr. Strauss's conclusions. But it is clear to him that Dr. Strauss's work con- sidered as a scientific production is more scientific than the works opposed to it from the side of religion are religious. Otherwise why are they so passionate, so apprehensive, so unjust?"
This confidence in pure critical science was not shared by Herr Privat-Docent Daniel Schenkel of Basle, afterwards Professor at Heidelberg. In a dreary work dedicated to his Gottingen teacher Liicke, on "Historical Science and the Church," [3] he looks for future salvation towards that middle region where faith and science interpenetrate, and hails the new supernaturalism which approximates to a scientific treatment of these subjects "as a hopeful phenomenon." He rejoices in the violent opposition at Zurich which led to the cancelling of Strauss's appointment, regarding it as likely to exercise an elevating influence. A similarly lofty position is taken up by the anonymous author of "Dr. Strauss and the Zurich Church,"[4] to which De Wette contributed a preface.
- ↑ Aphorismen zur Apologie des Dr. Strauss und seines Werkes. Grimma, 1838.
- ↑ From the Xame Xenien, p. 259 of Goethe's Works, ed. Hempel.
- ↑ Die Wissenschaft und die Kirche. Zur Verstandigung fiber die Straussische Angelegenheit. (A contribution to the adjustment of opinion regarding the Strauss affair.) By Daniel Schenke], Licentiate in Theology and Privat-Docent of the University of Basle, with a dedicatory letter to Herr Dr. Liicke, Konsistorialrat. Basle, 1839.
- ↑ Dr. Strauss und die Zilricher Kirche. Eine Stimme aus Norddeutschland. Mit einer Vorrede von Dr. W. M. L. de Wette. (A voice from North Germany. With an introduction by Dr. W. M. L. de Wette.) Basle, 1839.
