BAHRDT, hart, KARL FRIEDRICH ( 1741-92). A German theologian of the extreme skeptical school. He was born August 25, 1741, at Bisch ofswerda, in Saxony, and studied at Leipzig, where lie soon displayed extraordinary talents, together with sonic defects of character. His early theological writings betrayed the skeptical tendencies which were afterwards more fully de veloped. On account of his immoral conduct lie was, in 176S, compelled to leave Leipzig, where he had been a popular preacher and pro fessor. In Erfurt, his next residence, he was appointed professor of philosophy and Hebrew antiquities; but gave offense by his rationalis tic teaching, as well as by his mode of life. He wrote Brie& fiber die systematische Theologic (1770-71, 2 parts), and Whnssle nines &lawmen Patriotcn (1770), two works whose heterodoxy involved him in controversies and made his position untenable. In 1771 lie went to Giessen, where he delivered theological lectures, and preached with approbation. Ills translation of the New Testament (1773) was regarded as so dangerous that the author was deprived of the privilege of teaching (1775). His creed, in fact,
was simple deism, and one of the chief points in his theology was his rejections of miracles. Even the immortality of the soul was not positively maintained in his work. From 1775 to 1779 he was most of the time in great straits, and com pelled to earn his support as best lie might; but in 1779 he became professor of philosophy at Halle and won enormous popularity. But he over worked himself, and so resigned his professor ship. When the Wiillner edict of 1788 against rationalism appeared he ridiculed it, anony mously, but was condemned to a year's im prisonment at Magdeburg. He employed his leisure in writing his autobiography, which is not noted for veracity (1790). Released, in 1790, he opened an inn at Halle, and gave him self up to riotous living. He then wrote the best book of the many he produced, System, der moralischen Religion (1719). He died at Halle, April 23, 1792. For his biography consult J. Leyser, F. Bahrdt sein I'erhtiltniss Z11111, Philanthropismus and our neuern Piida gogik (2d ed., .Neustadt, 1870).