Just and Sinner Podcast The Doctrine of Divine Love, or How Theology Relates to Ethics (Sartorius's Divine Love Part 1)
Feb 12, 2025
Explore the profound insights of Ernst Sartorius on divine love and its significance in Lutheran theology. Discover the historical divide between rationalism and ethics in the post-Enlightenment era. Delve into the tensions between Lutheran Orthodoxy and Pietism, and their influence on Enlightenment thinkers like Kant. Uncover how the command to love, especially one’s enemies, is essential to Christian ethics. Finally, understand how moral actions are rooted in a divine relationship, shaping our approach to goodness.
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Sartorius and Divine Love
- Ernst Sartorius, a lesser-known Lutheran theologian, emphasizes the mystical union and divine love.
- His main work, "The Doctrine of Divine Love," connects theology and ethics, exploring humanity's creation for love.
Theology as Practical Knowledge
- Sartorius criticizes the separation of intellect and affection in theology.
- He believes theology should combine intellectual understanding with heartfelt dispositions, reflecting older Protestant views.
Divorce of Theology and Life
- Sartorius argues that Protestant theology, initially practical, became increasingly divorced from life.
- This separation of ethics and dogmatics, exacerbated by pietism and the Enlightenment, led to faith being seen as mere subjective opinion.