The article argues that the role of T. G. Masaryk in Czech as well as Austrian society before 1914 can best be understood as an intellectual expert on religion. It analyzes letters sent to Masaryk by his followers in order to show, that the unusually far-ranging influence he commanded was based on his perception as a sincere champion of a new kind of religion, which transcended simple, anticlerical confrontation. This function of a religious intellectual expert could work precisely only because Masaryk did not specify what kind of religion he sought, but rather appeared as a "religious type", that very different – and conflicting – opinions could relate to.
This paper looks at the unprompted acceptance of T.G. Masaryk's religious-philosophical ideas by the founders of the Czechoslovak Church (CC) and their attempts to build a progressive national church in the spirit of Masaryk. A special section focuses on the CC's modified Christology, which allowed for the application of Masaryk's synergism to the CC's theology and spirituality. The conclusion explains the historical and political context in which the modern theology of the CC and its state-building, progressive orientation was gradually phased out by the church in the 1950s to be replaced once again by more conservative Christian teachings.