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Although not well-known outside of German studies, Hamann (1730–1788) merits attention. Not only did he contribute to historicizing tendencies in theology in the nineteenth century in thinkers as diverse as Herder, Hegel, and Kierkegaard, he also paved the way for confessional renewal advocated by Claus Harms, August Vilmar, and Wilhelm Loehe. Similar to contemporary postmodern thinkers, Hamann relativizes reason. Reason offers not unquestionable access to reality but instead expresses how a culture thinks. This book, the earliest of Hamann’s writings and never published in his lifetime, presents his departure from Enlightenment teachings and his conversion to orthodox Christianity. It is composed of the following treatises: (1) “On the Interpretation of Sacred Scripture,” (2) “Biblical Meditations of a Christian,” (3) “Thoughts on the Course of My Life,” (4) “Thoughts on Church Hymns,” (5) “Deuteronomy 30:11– 14 together with Romans 10:4–10” (a sermon), (6) “Fragments,” (7) “Meditations on Newton’s Study of Prophecies,” (8) “Further thoughts on the Course of My Life,” and (9) “Prayer.” Portions of these have appeared earlier in English translation but this is a complete translation with helpful introductions and annotations.
Translator Kleinig explains that Hamann made four important contributions...