Silent Years 225usually completely neglected, for Hamann was at that time beginning his
campaign against Johann August Starck (1741—1816), who had arrived in
Königsberg on September 28, 1769, moving into Kanter's house and living
"door to door" with Kant.^138 He was a Freemason, and there were rumors
that he had converted to Catholicism. Starck claimed that he had been
initiated into the secrets of Freemasonry of Medieval Templarism, and he
succeeded in converting the Königsberg lodge into one of "strict obser¬
vance." At the same time, he was successful in obtaining a professorship
at Königsberg. In October of 1773 Starck defended a dissertation, "On the
Use of the Old Translations of Holy Scriptures," and in March of 1774
another dissertation on the highly controversial topic of "Heathen Impor¬
tations into Christendom." In the latter he argued that Christians had taken
over many of their rites from heathens, and that many Christian customs
could be traced back to the mystery cults of the ancient world. The Chris¬
tian rites should be understood in this light. While they should perhaps not
be completely removed, as the Mennonites demanded, they should be care¬
fully evaluated, since many of the differences between the confessions
depended just on them. Still, religion should not be held hostage to such
externalities. "The goal and purpose of all religions is that they direct the
gaze of human beings from this earth to heaven, that true virtue, love of
God and fear of God grow in men's breasts. If even the external rites take
on the substance of the doctrine in order to achieve this, then religion has
reached its goal."^139
Hamann felt himself challenged. Enlisting Kypke's help, he was
preparing a refutation.^140 When Hamann answered Kant's letter about
Herder's Oldest Document on April 7, he complained that the theological
faculty had given to a "Roman-Apostolic-Catholic Heretic" and "Crypto-
Jesuit" the title of doctor, and he wondered whether he would be able to do
two things at the same time, that is, both defend Herder and attack Starck.^141
Kant answered:
There is nothing strange in the new academic appearance for me. Once a religion is
put in such a position that critical knowledge of ancient languages, philological and
antiquarian scholarship make up its basic foundation, on which it is built at all times
in all nations, then someone, who knows Greek-Hebrew-Syrian-Arabic-etc. and who
is also acquainted with the archives of the ancient world, will be able to lead all the
orthodox wherever he wants to lead them. They may look as unhappy as they wish, they
are like children.... Considering this, I fear very much for the long duration of the
triumph without victory, accomplished by the re-installer of the Document. For he is
opposed by a closed phalanx of masters of Oriental language, which will not let such
a prize be taken from their territory by someone who is uninitiated.^142