Church, Sect, Mysticism Ernst Peter Wilhelm Troeltsch (/trɛltʃ/;[1] German: [tʁœltʃ]; 17 February 1865 – 1 February 1923) was a German liberal Protestant theologian, a writer on the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of history, and a classical liberal politician.

His work was a synthesis of a number of strands, drawing on Albrecht Ritschl, Max Weber's conception of sociology, and the Baden school of neo-Kantianism.

[5] Throughout Troeltsch's life, he wrote frequently of his belief that changes in society posed a threat to Christian religion and that "the disenchantment of the world" as described by sociologist Max Weber was underway.

At an academic conference that took place in 1896, after a paper on the doctrine of Logos, Troeltsch responded by saying, "Gentlemen, everything is tottering!

Troeltsch interpreted non-Calvinist Protestantism as having had a positive effect on the development of the press, modern education systems, and politics.

Troeltsch's distinction between churches and sects as social types, for instance, set the course for further theological study.

The reform movement around Luther, Troeltsch argued, was "in the first place, simply a modification of Catholicism, in which the Catholic formulation of the problems was retained, while a different answer was given to them.

"[10] Bible Translators Theologians Troeltsch developed three principles pertaining to critical historiography.

[12] Troeltsch was politically a classical liberal and served as a member of the Parliament of the Grand Duchy of Baden.

"[13] In the immediate aftermath of Troeltsch's death, his work neglected as part of a wider rejection of liberal thought with the rise of neo-orthodoxy in Protestant theology, especially with the prominence of Karl Barth in the German-speaking world.