Biedermann, Alois Emanuel

D.D., Swi Protestant; b. at Oberrieden, March 2, 1819; studied at Basel, 1837-39, and Berlin, 1839-43; became pastor at Mon chen stein, Bas sell and, 1843; profe or extraordinary of theology at Zurich, 1850, and ordinary in 1864; d. at Zurich, Jan. 26, 1885. He was a leading rationalist, a disciple of Hegel, and deeply influenced by the Tubingen School, especially by Strau . He was a prolific writer for the religious pre , published a life of He in rich Lang (Zurich, 1876), but obtained his greatest repute by his Chrisllicke Dogmatik (1869, 2d ed. vol. i., Berlin, 1884, vol. ii. edited by Prof. Dr. Rehinke, 1885), in which he denies the historicity of the Gospels, yet holds to the eternal ideas which the supposed facts of the Gospels embody; denies Christian doctrine, but advocates Christian practice; denies personality to God, and personal immortality to man, yet holds that love to God and man constitutes the e ence of religion. In this way he tries to join the speculative and the practical. He was a famous Alpine climber. See his posthumous Ausgewdhlte Vortrdge unci Aufsatze, mil einer biograph is chen Einleitung von Kradolfer, Berlin, 1885. *