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battle-for-religion

Rosenzweig's idea that the twentieth century's spiritual struggle is a fight to reclaim religion from the dominance of historical rationalism and secular modernity.

1 chapter across 1 book

The Shipwrecked Mind: On Political Reaction (2016)Mark Lilla

Chapter 6

This chapter traces the intellectual and spiritual journey of Franz Rosenzweig, a German Jewish philosopher who grappled with the crisis of modernity and religious identity in the early twentieth century. Initially drawn toward Christianity under the influence of contemporaries, Rosenzweig ultimately recommitted to Judaism, seeking to renew Jewish life through a direct encounter with tradition beyond modern philosophical mediation. His thought represents a reaction against nineteenth-century Hegelian historicism and liberal theology, advocating a 'battle for religion' that resists the disenchantment and rationalization of the modern world.