Theological trend-setters after the war were dogmatic or systematic theologians. Whether men of the right like Karl Holl or men of the left like Karl Barth, they wanted to return to Luther's fundamental Reformation theology and to justification through faith alone. In the mid-1920s, however, Barth saw the dangers of Lutheran theocentrism wedded to German nationalism and moved towards a more Reformed Christology and a greater critical distance from Luther. The other six major Weimar-era theologians discussed - Karl Holl, Friedrich Gogarten, Werner Elert, Paul Althaus, Emanuel Hirsch, and Erich Vogelsang - connected their theology to their Luther studies and to their hopes for rebirth of Germany after the humiliation of the Versailles order. To differing degrees they presented Martin Luther as the German saviour and all except Karl Holl, who died in 1926, worked out specifically theological reasons for supporting Hitler when he came to power in 1933.

This volume, dedicated to Hans-Jurgen Goertz (Hamburg University) on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, brings together fourteen historical and theological essays dealing with the theme of outsiders, non-conformists, and social and religious movements in the German-speaking world between the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern era. Taking the concept of 'border' as its departure point, the volume offers a kaleidoscope of theoretical and historical analysis, including such topics as the Anabaptist rule in Munster, a civil revolt against the Jews in Worms, and the limits of tolerance in the thinking of Martin Luther. The essays are preceded by an interview with Hans-Jurgen Goertz. Publications by Hans-Jurgen Goertz: * Innere und aussere Ordnung in der Theologie Thomas Muntzers, ISBN: 978 90 04 02180 8 (Out of print)