This volume presents 46 reviews and four wide ranging literature surveys from 1894 to 1900 These early writings already demonstrate the broad sweep of the theologian Troeltsch s critical horizon Apart from reviewing new publications on dogma contemporary ethical models and writings in the philosophy of religion he also discussed studies on the history of religion culture and ideas since the 17th century together with texts on the philosophy of history These writings too reflect his underlying methodological stance that the diagnosis of the present always aims to re form the present