Hermann Kutter
Encyclopedia
Hermann Kutter was a Swiss Lutheran theologian. Together with Leonhard Ragaz
, he was one of the founders of Christian Socialism
in Switzerland
. He was heavily influenced by Christoph Blumhardt
. He combined Blumhardt's expectation of a coming Kingdom of God
with a belief in socialist progress. He saw Social Democracy
as a "tool" of the living God, and its followers as unwitting servants of God. He authored 11 books.
in Basel
, Bern, and Berlin
. In 1844 he became a pastor
in Vinelz
(Bielersee), 1898 in Zürich
(Neumünster).
expectation of the Kingdom of God, the life
philosophies of the time, and the socialistic faith in the future of the younger Blumhardt, as well as the philosophy
of German
idealism, Kutter reached a dynamic view of God: God, who through Christ penetrates humankind and the world in eternal reality is the only reality of life. With this theo-centric theology Kutter paved the way for so-called “dialectic theology” (Karl Barth
, Emil Brunner
, Eduward Thurneysen). For Kutter, the return to “direct life” is completed in the history of humankind; socialism is a sign of this. But for Kutter this return to the direct is at the same time the meaning and goal of Christendom. For him, social democrats are instruments of the living God; “they must” proclaim to the world the judgment and the great turning point in their service to God, without realizing it themselves. Nonetheless, Kutter never joined the Social Democratic Party (as Leonhard Ragaz
and Karl Barth did); neither did he identify the gospel with socialism.
Leonhard Ragaz
Leonhard Ragaz was a Swiss Reformed theologian and, with Hermann Kutter, one of the founders of Religious socialism in Switzerland...
, he was one of the founders of Christian Socialism
Christian socialism
Christian socialism generally refers to those on the Christian left whose politics are both Christian and socialist and who see these two philosophies as being interrelated. This category can include Liberation theology and the doctrine of the social gospel...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He was heavily influenced by Christoph Blumhardt
Christoph Blumhardt
Christoph Blumhardt was a German Lutheran theologian and one of the founders of Christian Socialism in Germany and Switzerland. He was a well-known preacher. In 1899 he announced his support for socialism and joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany; for this, he lost his position as minister...
. He combined Blumhardt's expectation of a coming Kingdom of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
with a belief in socialist progress. He saw Social Democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
as a "tool" of the living God, and its followers as unwitting servants of God. He authored 11 books.
Biography
Kutter was born at Bern, the son of Wilhelm Rudolf Kutter (1818–1888), an engineer, and Marie Albertina König (1833–1923). He married Lydia Rohner (1868–1936) in 1892. He grew up in a pietistic home and studied theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, Bern, and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1844 he became a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
in Vinelz
Vinelz
Vinelz is a municipality in the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Vinelz has an area of . Of this area, 52.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 36.5% is forested. The rest of the land, is settled.-Demographics:Vinelz has a population of . ,...
(Bielersee), 1898 in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
(Neumünster).
Philosophy
Under the impression of a combination of the ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
expectation of the Kingdom of God, the life
Life
Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased , or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate...
philosophies of the time, and the socialistic faith in the future of the younger Blumhardt, as well as the philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
idealism, Kutter reached a dynamic view of God: God, who through Christ penetrates humankind and the world in eternal reality is the only reality of life. With this theo-centric theology Kutter paved the way for so-called “dialectic theology” (Karl Barth
Karl Barth
Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian whom critics hold to be among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas...
, Emil Brunner
Emil Brunner
Heinrich Emil Brunner was a Swiss Protestant theologian. Along with Karl Barth , he is commonly associated with neo-orthodoxy or the dialectical theology movement....
, Eduward Thurneysen). For Kutter, the return to “direct life” is completed in the history of humankind; socialism is a sign of this. But for Kutter this return to the direct is at the same time the meaning and goal of Christendom. For him, social democrats are instruments of the living God; “they must” proclaim to the world the judgment and the great turning point in their service to God, without realizing it themselves. Nonetheless, Kutter never joined the Social Democratic Party (as Leonhard Ragaz
Leonhard Ragaz
Leonhard Ragaz was a Swiss Reformed theologian and, with Hermann Kutter, one of the founders of Religious socialism in Switzerland...
and Karl Barth did); neither did he identify the gospel with socialism.