Pietism

Religious movement within Lutheranism in the 17th century that emphasized spiritual and devotional faith rather than theology and dogma. It was founded by Philipp Jakob Spener (1635–1705), a minister in Frankfurt, Germany, who emphasized devotional meetings for ‘groups of the Elect’ rather than biblical learning; he wrote the Pia Desideria (1675).

The movement was for many years associated with the University of Halle (founded 1694), Germany.