Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-81) stands as a key figure in German intellectual history, a bridge joining Luther, Leibniz, and German idealism. Despite his well-recognized importance in the history of thought, Lessing as theologian or philosopher of religion remains an enigmatic figure. Scholars refer to the "riddle" or "mystery" of Lessing, a mystery that has proved intractable because of his reticence on the subject of the final conclusions of his intellectual project. Toshimasa Yasukata seeks to unravel this mystery. Based on intensive study of the entire corpus of Lessing's philosophical...

Toshimasa Yasukata offers a detailed study and interpretation of the German theologian Ernst Troeltsch, discerning a systematic unity in his thought. Despite the obvious diversity of his interests and published works, Troeltsch is shown to be thoroughly consistent in exploring the possibility of establishing normative values in the face of the relativizing efforts of history. In his closing remarks, Yasukata suggests the wide-ranging significance of Troeltsch's work for the future of theology.