Philipp Spener
Philipp Spener (1635-1705) was a German Lutheran theologian who is widely considered to be the father of Pietism, a movement within Lutheranism that emphasized personal piety and a more active faith. Born in Rappoltsweiler, Alsace, Spener studied at Strasbourg and Basel before becoming a pastor in Strasbourg in 1663. In 1666, he was appointed court chaplain to the Elector of Brandenburg in Berlin, where he served for the rest of his life. Spener was deeply concerned about what he saw as a decline in spiritual life and a lack of true piety in the Lutheran church. In response, he began to hold weekly meetings for Bible study and spiritual conversation, which he called collegia pietatis (colleges of piety). These meetings were open to all and aimed to encourage members to deepen their personal faith and commitment to God. Spener's ideas were outlined in his seminal work, "Pia Desideria" (Pious Desires), published in 1675. In it, he called for a reform of the Lutheran church ...