Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Solo · 07-07-2006, 07:29 AM

If you were university educated in a communist country, as I was, the name of Bruno Bauer would be familiar. A prominent philosopher of the 19th. c, he also was a student of early Christianity. Even though less known than Johann Friedrich Strauss, he made some important contributions to the study of the NT (among other things, he supplied an early version of textual methodology, and was the first scholar who argued for Markan priority). He developed a prototype of a mythicist doctrine on which the atheist Left traditionally builds its view of early Christianity. However, he had influence also on the German liberal Protestants, from Schweitzer to Bultmann.

Bauer's radicalism appealed to Marx and Engels and he became eventually a "saint in their philosophical calendar", though initially he was heavily criticized by them (The Holy Family, 1844). The following is a link to Engel's essay on Bauer on his death in 1882.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx...2/05/bauer.htm

JS

Julian · 07-07-2006, 07:36 AM

Bruno Bauer is quite well-known here in the west, as well.

Julian

Solo · 07-07-2006, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian

Bruno Bauer is quite well-known here in the west, as well.

Julian

Interesting. Given the prominence he enjoyed in the east (he was the staple reference for the official Soviet doctrine of Jesus' non-existence), what would you say is the middle-of-the-road academic view of him, in the west ?

JS

RED DAVE · 07-07-2006, 09:26 AM

As one of the few marxists around here, I would say that, generally, Bauer isn't that well known. I've never seen his name pop up here in a thread.

Kautsky's work is never mentioned, either. Here's a link to his work.

Karl Kautsky – Foundations of Christianity

RED DAVE

Julian · 07-07-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solo

Interesting. Given the prominence he enjoyed in the east (he was the staple reference for the official Soviet doctrine of Jesus' non-existence), what would you say is the middle-of-the-road academic view of him, in the west ?

JS

He is usually mentioned as one of the pioneers in MJ scholarly work followed by a statement saying that the notion eventually failed.

Julian

andrewcriddle · 07-08-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RED DAVE

As one of the few marxists around here, I would say that, generally, Bauer isn't that well known. I've never seen his name pop up here in a thread.

There is a discussion of Bruno Bauer Engels and other matters here http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=146933

Andrew Criddle

Celine · 07-08-2006, 03:09 PM

Well, I'm not proud to say that even Engels is not that popularly "known," either, except as a kind of tagged 'meme' with Marx.
I've enjoyed the quick perusal of your link, and the broader issues Engels joins.

07-07-2006, 07:29 AM	#1
Solo Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 2,579	Friedrich Engels on Bruno Bauer If you were university educated in a communist country, as I was, the name of Bruno Bauer would be familiar. A prominent philosopher of the 19th. c, he also was a student of early Christianity. Even though less known than Johann Friedrich Strauss, he made some important contributions to the study of the NT (among other things, he supplied an early version of textual methodology, and was the first scholar who argued for Markan priority). He developed a prototype of a mythicist doctrine on which the atheist Left traditionally builds its view of early Christianity. However, he had influence also on the German liberal Protestants, from Schweitzer to Bultmann. Bauer's radicalism appealed to Marx and Engels and he became eventually a "saint in their philosophical calendar", though initially he was heavily criticized by them (The Holy Family, 1844). The following is a link to Engel's essay on Bauer on his death in 1882. http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx...2/05/bauer.htm JS

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07-07-2006, 07:36 AM	#2
Julian Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington, DC (formerly Denmark) Posts: 3,789	Bruno Bauer is quite well-known here in the west, as well. Julian

07-07-2006, 09:26 AM	#4
RED DAVE Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 10,532	As one of the few marxists around here, I would say that, generally, Bauer isn't that well known. I've never seen his name pop up here in a thread. Kautsky's work is never mentioned, either. Here's a link to his work. Karl Kautsky – Foundations of Christianity RED DAVE

07-08-2006, 03:09 PM	#7
Celine Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 543	Well, I'm not proud to say that even Engels is not that popularly "known," either, except as a kind of tagged 'meme' with Marx. I've enjoyed the quick perusal of your link, and the broader issues Engels joins.

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