Adolph Peter Adler
Encyclopedia
Adolph Peter Adler was a Danish theologian, writer
and a pastor
in Hasle and Rutsker, on the island of Bornholm
, Denmark
.
(1776–1846). Frederik Ludvig Liebenberg
(1810–94), recounts in his memoirs that Adler, and Kierkegaard were in the same class together from 1823 to 1827 often addressing each other with the informal “du” form, implying a close and informal friendship.
He began his studies at the University of Copenhagen
in 1831 and a year later begin work on his major, theology
. After 4 years of studying he became a theological candidate in 1836. Adler writes in the dissertation: from the moment that the creature stepped forth out of the unity with the Creator, subjectivity also stepped forth out of unity with objectivity.
He left Copenhagen in 1837 to travel abroad for a year and a half. Upon his return he became inspired by Hans Lassen Martensen's
(1808–84) lectures on Hegelianism
, along with many of his fellow University of Copenhagen, theological students.
and took a pastorate in 1841. He claimed to have had a "vision of light" in 1842, which turned him against Hegelianism
. In this vision Jesus
commanded him to burn his former books and stated that he would dictate to him a new work. This book was entitled Several Sermons (Nogle Prædikener), and was published in 1843. He wrote later in his "preface" to a collection of sermons published in 1843, that he realized as if in a flash that everything depended not upon thought but upon spirit, and that an evil spirit existed. and he continued:
Bishop
Jacob Peter Mynster
suspended him in 1844. Adler was then deposed in 1845. He later conceded that his revelation was a mistake, that "revelation was perhaps too strong an expression". To make matters much worse, Adler later published other works, and declared that his former "revelation" was instead a work of genius. Moreover, Kierkegaard met with Adler, who, in reading his own works to Kierkegaard, would alternate between a regular speaking voice and a shrill "whistling" voice, as if the latter were to convey weightier and more spiritual truths. It was clear that the man was deranged. But beyond the mere fact of his delusions, Kierkegaard was impressed by the issues that the case of Adler raised, being particularly interested in Adler's confusion over the categories of genius
and inspiration.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
in Hasle and Rutsker, on the island of Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Early life
Adler was born on August 29, 1812, to well-to-do Danish merchant and wholesaler Niels Adler (1785–1871). When Adler was 8, he went Copenhagen’s most prestigious private school, Borgerdydskolen (School of Civic Virtue), whose headmaster was the legendary Michael NielsenMichael Nielsen
Michael Aaron Nielsen is a writer living just outside Toronto, Canada. Before, he was an academic in physics. He worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, as the Richard Chace Tolman Prize Fellow at Caltech, was Foundation Professor of Quantum Information Science and a Federation Fellow at the...
(1776–1846). Frederik Ludvig Liebenberg
Frederik Ludvig Liebenberg
Frederik Ludvig Liebenberg , was a Danish literary historian, translator, critic and publisher. He is remembered especially for his editions of Ludvig Holberg and Adam Oehlenschläger.-Childhood and education:...
(1810–94), recounts in his memoirs that Adler, and Kierkegaard were in the same class together from 1823 to 1827 often addressing each other with the informal “du” form, implying a close and informal friendship.
He began his studies at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
in 1831 and a year later begin work on his major, theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. After 4 years of studying he became a theological candidate in 1836. Adler writes in the dissertation: from the moment that the creature stepped forth out of the unity with the Creator, subjectivity also stepped forth out of unity with objectivity.
He left Copenhagen in 1837 to travel abroad for a year and a half. Upon his return he became inspired by Hans Lassen Martensen's
Hans Lassen Martensen
Hans Lassen Martensen was a Danish bishop and academic.- Early life :Martensen was born in a middle-class Lutheran family in Flensburg, Duchy of Schleswig , as their only son. At that time Schleswig was a duchy between Holstein and Denmark...
(1808–84) lectures on Hegelianism
Hegelianism
Hegelianism is a collective term for schools of thought following or referring to G. W. F. Hegel's philosophy which can be summed up by the dictum that "the rational alone is real", which means that all reality is capable of being expressed in rational categories...
, along with many of his fellow University of Copenhagen, theological students.
Career
He became an avid and prominent representative of the young Danish HegeliansYoung Hegelians
The Young Hegelians, or Left Hegelians, were a group of Prussian intellectuals who in the decade or so after the death of Hegel in 1831, wrote and responded to his ambiguous legacy...
and took a pastorate in 1841. He claimed to have had a "vision of light" in 1842, which turned him against Hegelianism
Hegelianism
Hegelianism is a collective term for schools of thought following or referring to G. W. F. Hegel's philosophy which can be summed up by the dictum that "the rational alone is real", which means that all reality is capable of being expressed in rational categories...
. In this vision Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
commanded him to burn his former books and stated that he would dictate to him a new work. This book was entitled Several Sermons (Nogle Prædikener), and was published in 1843. He wrote later in his "preface" to a collection of sermons published in 1843, that he realized as if in a flash that everything depended not upon thought but upon spirit, and that an evil spirit existed. and he continued:
That same night a hideous sound descended into our room. then the Savior commanded me to get up and go in and write down these words: The first human beings could have had an eternal life, because when thought joins God’s spirit with the body, then life is eternal; when the human being joins God’s spirit with the body, then the human being is God’s child; Adam would thus have been God’s son. But they sinned. Thought immersed itself in itself without the world, without the body. It separated the spirit from the body, the spirit from the world. And when the human being himself, when thought itself separates the spirit from the body and the spirit from the world, the human being must die and the world and the body must become evil. And what becomes of the spirit? The spirit leaves the body. But God does not take it back. And it becomes his enemy. And where does it go? Back into the world. Why? It is angry with the world, which abandoned it. It is the evil spirit. And the world itself created the evil spirit. Then Jesus commanded me to burn my own works and in the future to keep to the Bible.
Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Jacob Peter Mynster
Jacob Peter Mynster
Jacob Peter Mynster was a Danish theologian and Bishop of Zealand, Denmark from 1834 until his death....
suspended him in 1844. Adler was then deposed in 1845. He later conceded that his revelation was a mistake, that "revelation was perhaps too strong an expression". To make matters much worse, Adler later published other works, and declared that his former "revelation" was instead a work of genius. Moreover, Kierkegaard met with Adler, who, in reading his own works to Kierkegaard, would alternate between a regular speaking voice and a shrill "whistling" voice, as if the latter were to convey weightier and more spiritual truths. It was clear that the man was deranged. But beyond the mere fact of his delusions, Kierkegaard was impressed by the issues that the case of Adler raised, being particularly interested in Adler's confusion over the categories of genius
Genius
Genius is something or someone embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight....
and inspiration.