“Speeches on Religion” by Friedrich Schleiermacher in the Vision of Kyiv Academic Fedir Ornatskyi: an Example of Apologetic Reflection

Abstract

In this article, we delve into the religious readings of notable Kyiv academic professors from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries. Their works contain a wealth of empirical evidence and theoretical concepts that are crucial to understanding the development of the “science of religion” within the local intellectual tradition. We’re showcasing the work of Fedir Ornatskyi, a scholar from Kyiv Theological academy. Our analysis focuses on one of Ornatskyi’s notable pieces, which delves into the religious perspectives of Friedrich Schleiermacher, a renowned German theologian. A researcher from Kyiv is updating the accomplishments and ideas of F. Schleiermacher, aiming to find connections between the cultural, intellectual, and ideological situations of the late 18th and late 19th centuries. This includes the crisis of religiosity and the rejection of church institutions. Following this vision, F. Ornatskyi is interested in exploring the limitations of rationalist theology. He aims to understand F. Schleiermacher’s search for arguments supporting religion based on inner experience. However, the Kyiv researcher demonstrated that many of the German theologian’s ideas went beyond traditional orthodox church discourse, despite his apologetic motivation. F. Ornatskyi criticises his opponent’s controversial and odious statements, such as the absolutization of subjectivity and sensuality in religion; pantheism and impersonalism; subjectivism and relativism in religious knowledge; denial of the connection between religion and morality; speculative evaluations of specific religions, especially Christianity. At the same time, the Kyiv academician’s study of Schleiermacher’s stories about the relationship between cognitive and emotional-sensual components of religion demonstrates the elements of religious analysis, which combines historical, structural, psychological and phenomenological approaches; the seeds of the psychology of religion and religious cognitivism are found. The modern interpretation of F. Ornatskyi’s work provides a new perspective on Schleiermacher’s ideas, foreshadowing contemporary trends in religious evolution in the post-secular era.