Debatten um die Bibel

How can the Bible's claim to be Holy Scripture be reconciled with historical criticism? The radical criticism of religion and Bible that began to spread in mid-eighteenth century Europe was closely connected to the dynamics of a theological debating culture that emanated in universities before extending towards a wider, well-read public. The emergence of learned journals played a major role in this and contributed greatly to the rationalisation and popularisation of the discourse. Valentin Wendebourg takes exemplary debates in Germany, France, and England to trace their cross-border receptions and communication cultures. In this way, the direct interaction between the changes in media taking place and fundamental theological upheavals with regard to understanding Scripture and theology during the Enlightenment becomes visible.