Lessing und Zinzendorf

Even though a considerable portion of his work addresses various theological issues of his day, Lessing made no clear reference as to the nature of what he personally considered to be the absolute religious truth. Consequently, there is no consensus among scholars in this regard. This work proposes a new approach, that of the comparative study, in solving a most perplexing problem in German literature of the Enlightenment: what was the nature of G. E. Lessing's religion? Utilizing Zinzendorf's theology as backdrop shows that Lessing yearned for perfection within the realm of Christianity; his model was the early Church.