Adam Reinhold Schiewe. Esimese Eesti baptistikoguduse rajaja elulugu

Abstract

Uurimuse käsitleb Poola sakslasest baptistijutlustaja Adam Reinhold Schiewe (22.05.1843–29.12.1930) elulugu. Schiewe tegutses tänapäevaste piiride järgi viies riigis: Poolas, Volõõnia piirkonnas Ukrainas, Peterburi saksakeelses koguduses Venemaal (ja samal ajal ka Eestis) ning Saksamaal. Suurima jälje jättis Schiewe Eestisse, kus ta rajas 1884. aastal Haapsalus esimese baptistikoguduse ja oli Eesti baptismi tegelik juht 11 aastat. Uurimuse kirjutamise ajendiks oli vajadus mõista baptismi kui ühe Eestis tegutseva uskkonna ajaloolist tausta, väärtustada omaaegset mõjusat isikut, täpsustada senist pilti Schiewest ja tuua ta välja aja kulgemisest tingitud varjust. Uurimuse teemadeks on baptismi põhimõtted ja ajalugu, Schiewe kirjalik pärand, Schiewe päritolu ja perekond, kuidas Schiewest sai baptist ja jutlustaja, Schiewe ilmalik ja vaimulik haridus ning kuidas ta neid rakendas, Schiewe jutlustajana ja pastorina, Schiewe kui usu pärast tagakiusatu (sh Volõõniast väljasaatmine), Schiewe vaimulike ja majandusprobleemide lahendajana, Schiewega seotud olulised isikud – tema suhtumine neisse ja nende suhtumine temasse, olud, milles Schiewe elas ja tegutses – millised need olid enne ja millisteks kujunesid pärast teda, Schiewe kujutamine mittebaptistlikus ajakirjanduses, Schiewe suhted riigivõimuga, Schiewe jt sakslaste kirjeldused eestlastest, Schiewe vaimulikud vaated ning hinnang Schiewele, sh varasemate hinnangute kinnitamine või ümberlükkamine. Autor väidab, et tal õnnestus koostada allikatega põhjendatud, seniseid teadmisi oluliselt laiendav, mitmeid probleemseid seikasid lahendav ja vigu parandav Schiewe teaduslik elulugu, täita sellega üks tühik kirikuloos. Autori hinnangul on Schiewe väärt soliidset kohta ülemaailmse baptismi ajaloos, sest ta viis baptismi uuele maale – Eestisse. Ta peaks leidma kindlama koha ka nende maade baptismi ajaloos ja kirikuloos, kus ta töötas.

The study deals with the biography of Polish German Baptist preacher Adam Reinhold Schiewe (22.05.1843–29.12.1930). Schiewe operated in what are now five countries: in Poland, in the Volhynia region in Ukraine, in the German-speaking congregation in St. Petersburg, Russia (and at the same time also in Estonia), and in Germany. Schiewe left his paramount mark in Estonia, where he founded the first Baptist congregation in Haapsalu in 1884 and was the actual leader of Estonian Baptism for 11 years. The motivation for writing the research was the need to understand the historical background of Baptism as one of the religions operating in Estonia, to value an influential person of his time, to clarify the current image of Schiewe and to bring him out of the shadow caused by the passage of time. The topics of the research are the principles and history of Baptism; Schiewe's written heritage; Schiewe's origin and family; how Schiewe became a Baptist and preacher; Schiewe's secular and spiritual education and how he applied them; Schiewe as a preacher and pastor; Schiewe as a person persecuted for his faith (including expulsion from Volhynia); Schiewe as a solver of spiritual and economic problems; important persons related to Schiewe – his attitude towards them and their attitude towards him; conditions in which Schiewe lived and worked – what they were before and what they became after him; portrayal of Schiewe in non-Baptist media; Schiewe's relations with state authorities; depiction of Estonians by Schiewe and other Germans; Schiewe's spiritual views; and assessment of Schiewe, including confirmation or refutation of previous assessments. The author suggests that he managed to compile a scientific biography of Schiewe that is substantiated by sources, significantly expands the existing knowledge, solves several problematic situations, and corrects mistakes, thus filling a gap in the history of the church. According to the author, Schiewe deserves a solid place in the history of the worldwide Baptism because he brought Baptism to a new land – Estonia. He should also find a firmer place in the history of Baptism and church of the countries where he worked.