After completing school in Stendal with the Abitur, he began studies of theology and philosophy at the University of Tübingen in 1896.

[2] His drama Die ersten Menschen (The first humans), completed in 1908 and subtitled Erotisches Mysterium (erotic mystery play), was banned in Bavaria in 1912 after its premiere in Munich.

[3] He joined the group of the Monte Verità, and became friends with the dancer Rudolf von Laban.

A dance drama in three parts with text by Borngräber was performed in 1917, titled Sang an die Sonne (Song to the sun), with masks and costumes created by Marcel Janco.

Bornräber joined an call to a convention "Vegetarisch-sozialer Kongress") (Vegetarian-social congress), that was held in April 1916, intended as a demonstration for peace and against capitalism, and led by the pacifist Paul Birukoff [de], a friend of Tolstoi.