Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher (1768-1834), often recognized as the "father of modern theology" was the son of a Reformed pastor, and claimed the designation of "Reformed" for himself as well. While many today view Schleiermacher as having cast aside Reformed theology because of his departure from some orthodox expressions of Reformed theology , Schleiermacher himself believed that the very nature of Reformed theology was development, traceable from the days of the New Testament to his own era. Schleiermacher held that, in order to maintain its ability to communicate the truth about human existence as being in need of God's provision for redemption in Jesus Christ, all theology had to take into account new learning that is always reframing the human intellectual quest. Instead of being a destroyer of Reformed theology, Schleiermacher saw his role as simply one of the continuing stages of development in Reformed thought.