Erziehung des Menschengeschlechts. Eine Erinnerung an Lessings gleichnamige Schrift

Abstract

This essay explores Lessing’s conception of an education of the humankind in the context of the historical problems of its time, and asks about its meaning for the current debate on religious pluralism. Its ambition to lead to a tolerant relation to religions constitutes a standing challenge for the 21st century also. Moreover, this issue can no longer be addressed through the notion of a rational religion but rather only through the development of reflexivity in the religious traditions themselves.