Education
He studied theology at the Universities of Erlangen, Berlin and Kiel.
theologian university professor
He studied theology at the Universities of Erlangen, Berlin and Kiel.
In 1874 he became an associate professor at the University of Basel, where in 1881 he was named a full professor of dogmatics and ethics. In 1883 he returned to Berlin as a successor to Isaak August Dorner. In 1906/07 he served as university rector.
Early in his career he was influenced by the teachings of Kant and Schleiermacher.
Unlike Ritschl, he placed particular emphasis on the importance of mystical experience in religion.
From 1904 to 1925 he was a member of the Evangelical Oberkirchenrats (High Church Council) of the Prussian State Church, and since 1921, served as its spiritual vice-president