Friedrich Rittelmeyer facts for kids
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Friedrich Rittelmeyer (born October 5, 1872, in Dillingen an der Donau, died March 23, 1938, in Hamburg) was an important Lutheran minister and thinker from Germany. He is best known as the main founder and first leader of The Christian Community.
In the early 1900s, Rittelmeyer became well-known as a leading "liberal theologian." This means he was a religious scholar who wanted to update Christian ideas and focus on how faith could help people in their daily lives. He wrote books about a "Christianity of deeds," which meant focusing on actions and good works rather than just strict beliefs.
During World War I, he became one of the most famous religious leaders in Germany to speak out against the war. Later, his ideas were shaped by the philosopher Rudolf Steiner. In 1922, Rittelmeyer led a group of mostly Lutheran priests and students to start The Christian Community. This new church was open to different Christian groups and was inspired by Steiner's teachings. It focused on services and worship, and it didn't have very strict rules or beliefs, unlike some other churches. Rittelmeyer saw this new community as a continuation of his earlier work to make Christianity more open and active in the world.
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Early Life and Studies
Friedrich Rittelmeyer grew up in Schweinfurt, Germany. His father was also a Lutheran priest. In 1890, Friedrich began studying philosophy and Protestant theology at the University of Erlangen and the University of Berlin.
He learned from famous teachers like Adolf von Harnack. He also wrote his doctoral paper about the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In 1903, he earned his doctorate in Lutheran theology from the University of Leipzig.
A Priest's Journey
Rittelmeyer traveled to meet other religious thinkers and ministers who were focused on helping society. From 1895 to 1902, he served as a priest at the St.-Johannis-Kirche in Würzburg. In 1903, he moved to Nuremberg to become a preacher at the Heilig-Geist-Kirche. There, he married Julie Kerler in April 1904.
In Nuremberg, Rittelmeyer worked closely with Christian Geyer, another leading preacher. They even published two books of sermons together. Around 1910, they both discussed with church leaders how to interpret the Bible in a more open and modern way.
Speaking Out Against War
In 1916, Rittelmeyer became a preacher at the Neue Kirche in Berlin. At first, he supported Germany's involvement in World War I. However, he soon changed his mind and became strongly against the war. In October 1917, on Reformation Day, he and four other Berlin theologians signed a public statement calling for peace and understanding.
Meeting Rudolf Steiner and Founding a New Church
In 1910, a teacher named Michael Bauer helped Rittelmeyer meet Rudolf Steiner, who founded a spiritual movement called anthroposophy. Rittelmeyer wrote a book called Rudolf Steiner Enters my Life, describing how Steiner's ideas influenced him.
In September 1922, Rittelmeyer founded The Christian Community. He was its first main leader, called "Erzoberlenker." He led the first services and ordinations for the new church. From its base in Stuttgart, he guided the movement until his death.
During the time of Nazism in Germany, Rittelmeyer worked hard to protect The Christian Community. He tried to keep the church safe while also discussing the ideas of Nazism in his writings.
