Lutheran theologian and historian of religion Friedrich Heiler (1892-1967) is best known amongst theologians for his early phenomenological work on prayer (Das Gebet, 1918), as well as for his commitment to fostering harmonious relations between Eastern and Western religions and achieving unity between Christian denominations. A former Catholic, Heiler maintained his interest in Franciscan spirituality and, more broadly, in mysticism. Amongst historians of religion, he is known for his work on Buddhism and on the mystical dimensions of the Upanishads, as well as, later, for his work on topics as various as Alfred Loisy, the papacy, and the Eastern and Western versions of the church. The keynote of Heiler's combined theological and historical legacy was C (in the sense of universality) and a commitment to bringing the spiritual treasures of the East (including those of Southeast Asia) to Western audiences.
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