Arthur Drews
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Arthur Drews [pronounced "drefs"] (November 1, 1865-July 19, 1935) was a German philosopher, writer and important representative of German Monist thought. He was born in Uetersen, Holstein, present day Germany.
Along with Bruno Bauer and Albert Kalthoff, Arthur Drews is the best known representative of the Jesus-Myth school of thought, which disputes the existence of a historical Jesus. His work "The Christ Myth" expounded this theory, arguing that the figure of "Christ" arose from mystical and apocalyptic ideas of the period. The book caused considerable controversy, drawing Drews into many public debates which often became emotionally charged. Even Albert Schweitzer dedicated a whole chapter to Drews's thesis in his "Life of Jesus" (1913). Today "The Christ Myth" is largely unknown in Drews's native Germany, but remains important in English speaking countries, in which translations are still available.
Drews died on 19 July 1935 in Illenau bei Bühl, Baden at the age of 70.
[edit] Literary works
- Die deutsche Spekulation seit Kant, 2 vols., 1893
- Die Petruslegende, 1910
- Das Markusevangelium, 1921
- Einfuehrung in die Philosophie, 1922
- Psychologie des Unbewussten, 1924
- Deutsche Religion, 1934
[edit] External links
- Klaus Schilling's summary in English of Arthur Drews' article "The Denial of the Historicity of Jesus in Past and Present", Karlsruhe, 1926
- Klaus Schilling's summary in English of Bernhard Hoffers' April 2003 Lecture about Arthur Drews
