F. C. Baur’s Synthesis of Bohme and Hegel: Redefining Christian Theology as a Gnostic Philosophy of Religion

372 Pages·2014·1.388 MB·English

by  Corneliu Simut

F.C. Baur’s Synthesis of Böhme and Hegel
Philosophy of Religion
World Religions
Editor in Chief
Jerome Gellman (Ben Gurion University)
Editorial Board
Pamela Anderson (University of Oxford)
Richard Hayes (University of New Mexico)
Robert McKim (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
Rusmir Mahmutćehajić (Međunarodni forum Bosna/
International Forum Bosnia)
Volume 4
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/prwr
F.C. Baur’s Synthesis of
Böhme and Hegel
Redefining Christian Theology as
a Gnostic Philosophy of Religion
By
Corneliu C. Simuț
LEIDEN | BOSTON
Cover illustration: Satan shown as the fallen angel after having been smitten, by Gustave Doré.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Simuţ, Corneliu C.
 F.C. Baur’s synthesis of Böhme and Hegel : redefining Christian theology as a gnostic philosophy of
religion / by Corneliu C. Simuț.
  pages cm. — (Philosophy of religion. World religions, issn 2210-481X ; Volume 4)
 Includes bibliographical references and index.
 isbn 978-90-04-27520-1 (hardback : alk. paper) — isbn 978-90-04-27521-8 (e-book) 1. Baur, Ferdinand
Christian, 1792–1860. 2. Religion—Philosophy. 3. Gnosticism. 4. Philosophical theology. 5. Böhme, Jakob,
1575–1624—Influence. 6. Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich, 1770–1831—Influence. I. Title.
 BL51.S5298 2014
 230.092—dc23
2014029728
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ISSN 2210-481X
ISBN 978-90-04-27520-1 (hardback)
ISBN 978-90-04-27521-8 (e-book)
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This book is printed on acid-free paper.
To my wife, Ramona, and my children, Ezra and Lara
∵

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
part 1
What did Baur Learn from Böhme? 
1 The Idea of Creation 13
The Creation of Creation 13
The Hierarchy of Being 22
From Absoluteness to Finitude 28
The Will and God between Creation and Fragility 34
The Materiality of the World between the Devil and Man 42
From God to God’s Word, Lucifer, and Man 51
2 The Image of Lucifer 60
Lucifer as God’s Creation 60
Lucifer and the Idea of Light 67
Lucifer and Opposition against God 73
Lucifer and Rebellion 81
Lucifer and Sin 91
Lucifer and Death 100
Lucifer and Evil 105
Lucifer and the World 110
Lucifer and the Foundation of Dualism 116
3 The Structure of Dualism 125
Gnosis as Fundamental Dualism 125
The Dualism of Light and Darkness 129
The Dualism of Matter and Spirit 134
Dualism Explained: The Idea of Fragility 140
Dualism Explained: The Idea of Birth 146
Dualism Explained: The Idea of Agony 151
Light and Darkness in Creation 156
Christ and Lucifer in Creation 164
The Word and the Son in Creation 170
viii contents
part 2
What did Baur Learn from Hegel?
4 The Overlapping of Spirit and Matter 179
Baur’s Hegelian Understanding of God as Spirit in the Human
Being 179
Baur’s Hegelian Understanding of God as Corporeal in Christ’s
Being 194
5 The Connection between Philosophy and Religion 213
The Correlation of Philosophy and Religion as Interpenetration of
Humanity and Divinity 213
Religion as Christianity, Paganism, and Judaism 231
Concluding Remarks. Baur’s Synthesis of Böhme and Hegel:
Gnosis as a Christian Philosophy of Religion in History 262
Gnosis and the Old Philosophy of Religion 263
Gnosis and Manichaeism 265
Gnosis and Augustinianism 272
Gnosis and the Middle Ages 276
Gnosis and the Reformation 279
Gnosis between Absolute Truth, Salvation, and Faith 285
Personal Conclusions 290
Bibliography 295
Index 356
Acknowledgments
Heartfelt thanks are in order for the publication of this book to a handful of
people who found it interesting enough to be included in Brill’s “Philosophy
of Religion—World Religions” Series: the Editor in Chief, Jerome Gellman
(Ben Gurion University), the members of the Editorial Board: Pamela
Anderson (University of Oxford), Richard Hayes (University of New Mexico),
Robert McKim (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), and Rusmir
Mahmutćehajić (International Forum Bosnia). Likewise, Mirjam Elbers (reli-
gion editor), Els Meijer (assistant editor), and Thea Tilanus (production editor)
were always prompt and professional, which made working with this excellent
team a real delight.
To me, seeing this book in print marks a happy anniversary: a decade has
passed since the publication of my first two books which were dedicated to my
wife, Ramona, and my children, Ezra and Lara. Ten years later, Ramona, Ezra,
and Lara are still my main raisons d’écrire, so I am grateful to have been offered
the chance once again to dedicate a book to them for reminding me every day
why I do what I do and what mettre la main à la plume really means to me.
Corneliu C. Simuț
September 8, 2014
Oradea, Romania