Abstract
In On Religion: Speeches to its Cultured Despisers (1799; Eng. Ed. 1988), Friedrich Schleiermacher launched an apologetic for Christian faith at people who thought being rational and well educated entailed rejecting the truth claims of religion. Today we encounter cultured adherents of alternative religions just down the street from us. They believe their religion represents the best way, if not the only true way, of truth and life. Four mottoes capture an appropriate way of Christian witness to such people: Building relationships is more important than tearing down strongholds; You can never know enough, but you can easily know too much; It is better to inspire hope than to be admired; and overcome yourself not the enemy. These mottoes say in essence, build relationships, keep persons in the foreground, let God work within them, and overcome fear and false witness within yourself.
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