Johannes Ording
Encyclopedia
Johannes Ording was a Norwegian theologian. He served as a professor of systematic theology
at the Royal Frederick University
from 1906 to 1926, and his appointment caused a stir because some saw him as too liberal.
as a son of rector Jørgen Fredrik Ording (1832–1888) and his wife Marie Benedicte Wildhagen (1845–1913). He was a brother of educator and politician Fredrik Ording
, and an uncle of actor Jørn Ording
.
In June 1896 he married Fredrikke Ording (1874–1966). Fredrikke Ording was Johannes' first cousin, and also a sister of Hans Nielsen Hauge Ording
, niece of Hans Nilsen Hauge
, granddaughter of Andreas Hauge
and great-granddaughter of Hans Nielsen Hauge
. Fredrikke and Johannes had the son Arne Ording
, who became a notable historian and politician.
in 1886, and the cand.theol.
degree in 1893. From 1894 to 1900 he was a curate at St. John's Church in Kristiania
(in Norwegian the church was called Johanneskirken, sharing Ording's given name). He also worked as a teacher. In 1900 he left his church job to study, first three years with funding from a legatee, then from 1903 as research fellow
at the Royal Frederick University
. In the same year he took the dr.theol. degree with the thesis Den religiøse Erkjendelse, dens Art og Vished.
In 1903 professor of theology died Fredrik Petersen
, and there were problems with appointing a successor. In 1904 Ording was deemed to be the only qualified candidate, but he was not appointed. Certain people saw him as too liberal, as he was inspired by Albrecht Ritschl
. In 1905, there was another attempt to appoint a successor for Petersen, and this time six foreign academics had been summoned to judge the candidates. Five of them supported Ording, and the Faculty of Theology asked that Ording be appointed, except for professor Sigurd Odland, who dissented. The collegium (board) of the university agreed, and in January 1906 the Council of State made the final decision to appoint Ording. Christoffer Knudsen
resigned as Minister of Church Affairs, Sigurd Odland resigned as professor, and the more conservative MF Norwegian School of Theology
was founded as a response.
Ording's most notable release after this was Den kristelige tro ("The Christian Faith"), released in two volumes in 1915. Other releases include Gammel og moderne kristendomsopfatning ("Old and Modern Perception of Christianity", 1906) and Kristelig etik ("Christian Ethics", 1927). Ording did not write the latter book himself, but dictated it as he lay ill. He had suffered from a stroke
in 1921, and spent much of his time on sick leave until finally resigning as a professor in 1926. His last notable publication was an essay in Samtiden
in 1929. He died in January 1929 in Bærum.
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
from 1906 to 1926, and his appointment caused a stir because some saw him as too liberal.
Personal life
He was born in DrammenDrammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
as a son of rector Jørgen Fredrik Ording (1832–1888) and his wife Marie Benedicte Wildhagen (1845–1913). He was a brother of educator and politician Fredrik Ording
Fredrik Ording
Fredrik Christian Wildhagen Ording was a Norwegian educator, writer and politician for the Conservative Party....
, and an uncle of actor Jørn Ording
Jørn Ording
Jørn Ording was a Norwegian actor, theatre instructor and screenwriter.He was born in Kristiania as a son of Jørgen Fredrik Ording...
.
In June 1896 he married Fredrikke Ording (1874–1966). Fredrikke Ording was Johannes' first cousin, and also a sister of Hans Nielsen Hauge Ording
Hans Ording
Hans Nielsen Hauge Ording was a Norwegian theologian.He was born in Solum as a son of dean Theodor Ording and Johanne Gabrielle Gustava Andrea Hauge . He was a grandson of Andreas Hauge, and great-grandson of Hans Nielsen Hauge...
, niece of Hans Nilsen Hauge
Hans Nilsen Hauge
Hans Nilsen Hauge was a Norwegian priest and politician for the Conservative Party. He was Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1903 to 1905.Knudsen was born in Nord-Audnedal,...
, granddaughter of Andreas Hauge
Andreas Hauge
Andreas Hauge was a Norwegian priest, psalm writer and politician.He was born in Aker as a son of Hans Nielsen Hauge and Andrea Andersdatter Nyhus . He lost his mother at only a week of age; his father then married again, but he died when Andreas Hauge was 9. He took the examen artium in 1834,...
and great-granddaughter of Hans Nielsen Hauge
Hans Nielsen Hauge
Hans Nielsen Hauge was a noted revivalist Norwegian lay minister who spoke up against the Church establishment in Norway. Hauge is considered an influential personality in the industrialization of Norway...
. Fredrikke and Johannes had the son Arne Ording
Arne Ording
Arne Ording was a Norwegian historian and politician for Mot Dag and the Labour Party.-Pre-war life and career:...
, who became a notable historian and politician.
Career
He took the examen artiumExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1886, and the cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
degree in 1893. From 1894 to 1900 he was a curate at St. John's Church in Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
(in Norwegian the church was called Johanneskirken, sharing Ording's given name). He also worked as a teacher. In 1900 he left his church job to study, first three years with funding from a legatee, then from 1903 as research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. In the same year he took the dr.theol. degree with the thesis Den religiøse Erkjendelse, dens Art og Vished.
In 1903 professor of theology died Fredrik Petersen
Fredrik Petersen
Fredrik Petersen is a Swedish handballer, currently playing for Danish Handball League side GOG Svendborg. He has previously played for IFK Ystad in the Swedish Elitserien....
, and there were problems with appointing a successor. In 1904 Ording was deemed to be the only qualified candidate, but he was not appointed. Certain people saw him as too liberal, as he was inspired by Albrecht Ritschl
Albrecht Ritschl
Albrecht Ritschl was a German theologian.Starting in 1852, Ritschl lectured on "Systematic Theology". According to this system, faith was understood to be irreducible to other experiences, beyond the scope of reason. Faith, he said, came not from facts but from value judgments...
. In 1905, there was another attempt to appoint a successor for Petersen, and this time six foreign academics had been summoned to judge the candidates. Five of them supported Ording, and the Faculty of Theology asked that Ording be appointed, except for professor Sigurd Odland, who dissented. The collegium (board) of the university agreed, and in January 1906 the Council of State made the final decision to appoint Ording. Christoffer Knudsen
Christoffer Knudsen
Christoffer Knudsen was a Norwegian priest and politician for the Conservative Party. He was Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1905 to 1906....
resigned as Minister of Church Affairs, Sigurd Odland resigned as professor, and the more conservative MF Norwegian School of Theology
MF Norwegian School of Theology
The Norwegian School of Theology , is a private, independent, accredited Norwegian specialised university...
was founded as a response.
Ording's most notable release after this was Den kristelige tro ("The Christian Faith"), released in two volumes in 1915. Other releases include Gammel og moderne kristendomsopfatning ("Old and Modern Perception of Christianity", 1906) and Kristelig etik ("Christian Ethics", 1927). Ording did not write the latter book himself, but dictated it as he lay ill. He had suffered from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1921, and spent much of his time on sick leave until finally resigning as a professor in 1926. His last notable publication was an essay in Samtiden
Samtiden
Samtiden is a Norwegian political and literary magazine. It was founded by Jørgen Brunchorst and Gerhard Gran in 1890. The magazine's first publisher was John Griegs forlag , and from 1900 Aschehoug . Gran was the magazine's editor from 1892 to 1925. Cathrine Sandnes has been editor-in-chief from...
in 1929. He died in January 1929 in Bærum.