Philip Jakob Spener is known as the “father of Pietism.” Spener was raised by devout protestants but he himself was more of a Calvinist than a Lutheran. He studied theology at some of the best Protestant universities and eventual earned a doctorate degree. He worked toward what Gonzalez describes as a completion of the protestant movement that had started in the sixteenth century but was interrupted by the doctrinal debates. Agreeing with Luther’s idea of justification through faith Spener emphasized a need for sanctity of the member. In response to the rationalism of philosophers and the dogmatic structure of the catholic church he encouraged religion to be practiced in small groups in which that tone wasn’t promoted. Instead preachers were encouraged to “set aside their polemical and academic tone” in order to foster a more intimate relationship with believers. This attracted a lot of people to “colleges of piety.”
One of the most significant contributions Piety made to the world of religion was the “birth of Protestant missions.” The first was in Tranquebar, India in 1707. Later, a school of missions was founded for training missionaries. Within twenty years more protestant missionaries had been sent out than in the two centuries earlier.
In Pia Desideria Spener writes about the significance of the scriptures. He says that they should be taught to the congregation in their entirety and that the masses need help understanding them. The average person isn’t getting enough out of just reading at home and in order to help them gain an understanding a specific time should be allotted at church when they are read in sequence. At this time members with more experience with a particular passage will be able to speak about their understanding of it. By having this private reading and interactive public study the average person will be able to come to a better understanding and convey that to their friends and family without putting an overwhelming burden on the priests and ministers. The congregation will be strengthened and will have more control over their relationship with God.