The Free Religious Community of Offenbach

With around 1,000 registered members, the Free Religious Community is currently one of the largest religious minority groups with corporate rights in Offenbach.

As a liberal religious community, it encompasses a spectrum ranging from religious humanists to rationalist pantheists to non-dogmatic Christians. It refrains from establishing generally binding doctrines, does not bind its members to holy scriptures, does not seek to proselytize, but wants its members to arrive at their own sustainable, constantly reviewed, tolerant position of faith.

The Free Religious Community of Offenbach was one of the first to be established in Germany. It was founded on March 9, 1845.

The congregation was formed in the mid-19th century among the respected bourgeoisie of the city of Offenbach by residents who were involved in education, social welfare, and economic life and who were distinguished by their interest in religious-rationalist reform and their commitment to political-democratic change. They wanted both self-determination for believers in matters of religion and self-determination for citizens in matters of politics; they wanted a say in the decisions of the church as well as a say in the leadership of the state.

Of particular importance were the Offenbach businessmen Joseph Pirazzi and Martin Kappus (later named honorary citizens of the city of Offenbach), the last honorary mayor Johann Martin Hirschmann, and the linguist Dr. Lorenz Diefenbach. The latter, who was the intellectual leader of the emerging Free Religious Community, was elected as an honorary citizen of Offenbach and the city’s sole representative to the national pre-parliament of 1848.

Origin and mission

In organizational terms, most free religious communities emerged around 1845 from circles that broke away from both the sacramental and hierarchical Catholicism of Rome and the orthodox and state-obedient Protestantism of the 19th century. They sought to reform the early Christian faith across narrow denominational boundaries, but were soon expelled from their respective churches.

After the dismantling of the democratic, parliamentary representation of the people and the free religious communities that supported it, these communities quickly distanced themselves from the established teachings of traditional Christianity. In 1859, “German Catholics” and “Free Protestants” or “Friends of Light” joined together in Gotha to form the “Federation of Free Religious Communities of Germany.”

By emphasizing the principles of freedom, reason, and tolerance, the Free Religious formed a tradition-critical inquiry into the existing churches.

Intellectual precursors of the free religious movement can be found in:

– in ancient and pre-Christian Western thought
– in some heretical branches of Christianity
– in German mysticism and Eastern religious philosophy
– in the left wing of the Reformation
– in Unitarian and universalist world movements
– in idealism and the Enlightenment
– in the intellectual movement leading up to the German Revolution of 1848.

Based on the fundamental principles of freedom of thought, belief, and conscience, which emphasize the value and dignity of each individual and encourage a critical, balanced, and cautious attitude toward all teachings, ideologies, and traditions, both the body of beliefs and community life have continued to develop.

Change and nature of free religious activity

The spiritual, religious, and cultural life, as well as the social, economic, and political situation in Offenbach, are completely different today than they were when the parish was founded in the 19th century. Our religious community has changed so much over the years that a churchgoer from that time would hardly recognize his community today, and a member of the current generation would hardly feel at home in the German Catholic community of 1845.

However, the fundamental beliefs of a dogma-free religion have remained, and the free religious objectives of that time are still valid today:

– Religion without hierarchy
– Complete freedom of belief and conscience
– Self-determination of members in all religious matters
– Co-determination in administrative and ritual matters of the community
– Social justice, equal rights, and educational opportunities for all sections of the population
– Respect for the natural sources of life
– Solidarity among all people in the spirit of humanity.

However, the increasingly complex and rapidly changing world has brought about changes in the nature of communication, working methods, organizational conditions, and forms of community life.

Organization and life of the Free Religious Community in Offenbach am Main

The Free Religious Community of Offenbach was one of the first to be formed within the old German princely borders. Today, it is one of the largest still in existence in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is a member of the “Federation of Free Religious Communities in Germany” and, through this, of the “International Humanist and Ethical Union” (IHEU) and the “International Association for Religious Freedom” (IARF).

As a public corporation with its supreme constitutional body, the municipal assembly, it has retained its independence despite its diverse regional, national, and international ties.

Its area of responsibility primarily covers the city and district of Offenbach, but extends far beyond that. Community events with:

– Sunday services, lectures, discussions, and celebrations
– Group activities for young people, adult education, and senior citizens
– Teaching and religious ceremonies such as baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals
– Pastoral care, individual counseling, and social welfare
– Publication of materials and public relations work

All of this corresponds, within modest limits, to what Christian churches offer. However, the spiritual content differs in many ways.

Although the community must always be very vigilant to ensure that it is not marginalized as a minority group, at least in the city of Offenbach there is a climate of respect and mutual information sharing in religious and social matters.

The community center is located in the town center and comprises three buildings: the consecration hall, the youth center, and the municipal administration.