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PROTESTANT EDUCATION IN SPAIN...
even further.? As a result, the number of educated people was significantly
increased between 1860 and 1880.
The spreading of Krausism and its effect on education helped Protestant
spirituality to emerge in the 1860s. The system of Krausism named after the
philosophy of the German Karl Christian Friedrich Krause (1781-1832) was
introduced into Spain by Julian Sanz del Rio (1814-1869), after he studied it
for a year in Germany in 1843.‘ In the era of Krausism, the intellectual form
of Protestant ethics ruled education, and left its mark on a significant part
of the intellectuals. According to the opinion of many historians, Krausism
was halfway between Pietism, Protestantism, and Pantheism.° The tenets of
Krause spread to Spanish universities from 1854, and Spanish adaptation of
his philosophy flourished between 1854-1868. In this new system of education,
teachers avoided corporal punishment, motivated the students to be active,
awoke their interests and cared for their inborn intellectual skills. They held
lessons outdoors, practicing sports and social games. The case of freedom of
Protestant religion in Spain and the unfolding of the Protestant education
within it is linked with the strengthening position of the Liberals.
Nevertheless, the Catholic Church strongly resisted Liberal activities until
the end of the century. Before the middle of the century, the party against reli¬
gious freedom was in a strong position in Spanish society. They relied upon the
writing of the Catalan theologian Jaime Balmes (1810-1848,) who was firmly
against the Protestant religion because of its denial of all authority, because, as
he explains it in his work of 1842 Protestantism and Catholicism Compared in
their Effects on the Civilization of Europe, it leads to atheism. He also says that
Liberalism mirrors the vices of Protestantism. He adds that Spain must be
grateful for the Inquisition, because it kept the purity of religion. Balmes ex¬
plains in his book that the Schism caused by Luther interrupted and weakened
the civilizing mission of Europe. Europe is disunited because of Protestantism,
and thus unable to succeed with its missionary duties on other continents.°
3 The Law of Public Instruction was enacted on 9 September 1857 and became known as the
Moyano Law for the Minister of Education, Claudio Moyano (1809-1890).
4 STOETZER, Otto Carlos, Karl Christian Friedrich Krause and His Influence in the Hispanic World,
Köln-Weimar-Wien, Böhlau, 1998.
5 DIERKSMEIER, Claus, Eastern Principles within Western Metaphysics, in F. Ochieng’-Odiambo
— R. Burton — E. Brandon (eds.), Conversations in Philosophy: Crossing the Boundaries, Cam¬
bridge, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008, 63-72.
6 BALMES, Jaime, El protestantismo comparado con el catolicismo: en sus relaciones con la
civilizaciôn Europea, Barcelona, Biblioteca Balmes, 1925. See especially chapter: Efectos del
Protestantismo sobre el curso de la civilizacion en el mundo contando desde el siglo XVI, Ibid.,
123-125.
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