If you’ve watched the newly released documentary God & Country, you may have noticed a moment where they cut to me, but then there’s a noticeable pause before I start talking. That pause was in reality much, much longer. The reason? I was debating whether to raise the issue of Nazi Germany in the context of the dangers Christian nationalism poses to our own democracy.
Thank you, Kristin. Reading your perspective is always nuanced, like a chef going to her spices and adding just the right seasoning to make every spoon or forkful exponentially better.
Last Saturday, after the showing of the film, your words of humility salted with historical depth, along with an ocean's depth of commitment to the kingdom of God, deeply moved me...
Keep taking the hits. It's worth the pain... Kathy & I are honored to have your voice in our lives. Honestly, I don't know how we would still be following the ways of Jesus without scholarly, thoughtful, & committed Jesus followers who are trying to make sense of it for us...
I agree that the TDNT (generally abbreviated as "Kittel") cannot be considered the domain of evangelical Christians. The work (which sits majestically on my book shelves) reflects the historical-critical consensus of the period, which means most evangelical pastors would be put off by the general thrust of these volumes. The complicity of the German Church is another matter, and theological orientation doesn't appear to have played much of a role in this regard. Liberals and conservatives had different reasons for supporting National Socialism, but the capitulation cut across theological and denominational lines. In America, Christian Nationalism is clearly a child of the political and theological right, but liberals have their own ways of abandoning the way of Jesus.
As one of many seminarians who had Kittel on the shelf, I am shocked to discover the connection. Though his true colors may not show in his writing, to me that that is part of the problem. How can you do theology and condone Hitler? Kittel's inactictivity Indites and indicts.
As Calvin himself teaches, there are sins of commission and perhaps more seriously sins of omission. They fall squarely on Kittel's shoulders. In this season they fall on all of our shoulders as "People of the Book".
I deeply appreciate your work here, Kristin, both the realistic assessment of Kittel's reference books and even more, the "learn from history" warnings about what is happening in our public life. I hear so many friends, good people, from the left and from the right, saying that they are disgusted by the choice they have for president and are just going to opt out. This is no time for critical or cynical passivity.
Regarding Kittel, It was of course Eerdmans that published it. Jon Pott, Eerdmans' longtime managing editor, told me that the profits they made on these big reference tomes (Kittel and others) made it possible financially for Eerdmans to publish things they really wanted to put out, such as the whole shelf full of works they produced on the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, e.g. works by Desmond Tutu and Alan Boesak. At least in that sense, there was a redemptive purpose at work in selling Kittel!
We'll put, and thank you for speaking into the culture.
I'm curious if you've read Timothy Snyder's book "On Tyranny" where he discusses responses to totalitarianism. He has a nice section where he discusses works of literature that can help us in difficult times wherein he references some of the words of Jesus from the gospels.
I don't know Tim's faith story, but I appreciated this reference - as well as the work in its entirety - so much so that I've read it a few times now.
Thanks Kristin ... a good read, your comments, and that of others ... trying to parse the times, and the words flying about us, like so much debris on a windy day. I've not yet seen the documentary, though it is on my list. Criticism, when it comes, needs our attention, for whatever instruction it might offer. But it needs to be carefully chewed, some of it swallowed, some of it spat out. Oh well, so much for metaphors. Safe travels.
Thank you for your thoughtful, care-laden approach, and your good hard work! You continue to give me so much hope through He who lives in and through you! Sounds so cliche, but it's wonderfully true. I'm reminded in the midst of this turning of our times that in encountering "prinicipalities and powers" and at times, the demonic, that the most difficult part of the Roman Catholic rite of exorcism is unmasking the pretense. It takes skill, persistence, diligence, humility, and no less than the spirit of God. His strength manifest. You do it well. Thank you again.
"What allows rhetoric to devolve into violence is when too many people say nothing." Are there guidelines, or a rule of thumb that educates an individual in how to not focus (and grasp onto) those few scattered, gleaming bits of straw, but to instead address the "pile of wood" right in front of us? To avoid extremes of saying nothing on the one hand, and overstating, exaggerating, or sensationalizing, on the other?
Kristen, thank you for the dialogue after the movie yesterday. I was the one who raised the question about further work on links to the Third Reich. I do appreciate that this is delicate territory--not wanting to jump to conclusions too easily and make broad stroke comparisons. TBH, I've been asking some of my good theologian friends about who we might read who they know of who can make the links theologically that historians are making--you, Heather Cox Richardson, others (know any theologians who are doing this?!). AND, I met Laura Fabrycky last summer ("The Keys to Bonhoeffer's House"), and that's what has started me on a journey of reading Bonhoeffer...and reading about him. I had long ago attended a class at Hope (even though I am a Calvin grad) that asked the question, "could the Holocaust happen again?"
If you haven't read (or listened) to Laura's book, maybe the first chapter alone would be intriguing as she tells of needing to have something to do to work against the Trump stuff in 2016.
Terry (my spouse) and I did visit the Bonhoeffer House last September, at Laura's suggestion. If you need an excuse to go to Berlin, this might be a good one!
Kristin, I appreciate your work. My sons and their wives are not Christ followers. I used this to help them understand what being evangelical is and what the problems are from distorted "Christian" thinking. Thank you for taking the time to write this and for speaking boldly when you think it will help.
This article gives a very good example of the reason I subscribed to your post.
Your 'critics' could take a lesson from your example... and should learn how to respond in a manner befitting scholarly discourse.
Thank you, Kristin. Reading your perspective is always nuanced, like a chef going to her spices and adding just the right seasoning to make every spoon or forkful exponentially better.
Last Saturday, after the showing of the film, your words of humility salted with historical depth, along with an ocean's depth of commitment to the kingdom of God, deeply moved me...
Keep taking the hits. It's worth the pain... Kathy & I are honored to have your voice in our lives. Honestly, I don't know how we would still be following the ways of Jesus without scholarly, thoughtful, & committed Jesus followers who are trying to make sense of it for us...
I agree that the TDNT (generally abbreviated as "Kittel") cannot be considered the domain of evangelical Christians. The work (which sits majestically on my book shelves) reflects the historical-critical consensus of the period, which means most evangelical pastors would be put off by the general thrust of these volumes. The complicity of the German Church is another matter, and theological orientation doesn't appear to have played much of a role in this regard. Liberals and conservatives had different reasons for supporting National Socialism, but the capitulation cut across theological and denominational lines. In America, Christian Nationalism is clearly a child of the political and theological right, but liberals have their own ways of abandoning the way of Jesus.
As one of many seminarians who had Kittel on the shelf, I am shocked to discover the connection. Though his true colors may not show in his writing, to me that that is part of the problem. How can you do theology and condone Hitler? Kittel's inactictivity Indites and indicts.
As Calvin himself teaches, there are sins of commission and perhaps more seriously sins of omission. They fall squarely on Kittel's shoulders. In this season they fall on all of our shoulders as "People of the Book".
https://open.substack.com/pub/jonathanbrownson/p/we-are-all-in-debt?r=gdp9j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I deeply appreciate your work here, Kristin, both the realistic assessment of Kittel's reference books and even more, the "learn from history" warnings about what is happening in our public life. I hear so many friends, good people, from the left and from the right, saying that they are disgusted by the choice they have for president and are just going to opt out. This is no time for critical or cynical passivity.
Regarding Kittel, It was of course Eerdmans that published it. Jon Pott, Eerdmans' longtime managing editor, told me that the profits they made on these big reference tomes (Kittel and others) made it possible financially for Eerdmans to publish things they really wanted to put out, such as the whole shelf full of works they produced on the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, e.g. works by Desmond Tutu and Alan Boesak. At least in that sense, there was a redemptive purpose at work in selling Kittel!
We'll put, and thank you for speaking into the culture.
I'm curious if you've read Timothy Snyder's book "On Tyranny" where he discusses responses to totalitarianism. He has a nice section where he discusses works of literature that can help us in difficult times wherein he references some of the words of Jesus from the gospels.
I don't know Tim's faith story, but I appreciated this reference - as well as the work in its entirety - so much so that I've read it a few times now.
Excellent scholarly informative essay as always. Nothing I disagree with. Everything that I am concerned with. This is why I subscribe as well.
Thanks Kristin ... a good read, your comments, and that of others ... trying to parse the times, and the words flying about us, like so much debris on a windy day. I've not yet seen the documentary, though it is on my list. Criticism, when it comes, needs our attention, for whatever instruction it might offer. But it needs to be carefully chewed, some of it swallowed, some of it spat out. Oh well, so much for metaphors. Safe travels.
Thank you for your thoughtful, care-laden approach, and your good hard work! You continue to give me so much hope through He who lives in and through you! Sounds so cliche, but it's wonderfully true. I'm reminded in the midst of this turning of our times that in encountering "prinicipalities and powers" and at times, the demonic, that the most difficult part of the Roman Catholic rite of exorcism is unmasking the pretense. It takes skill, persistence, diligence, humility, and no less than the spirit of God. His strength manifest. You do it well. Thank you again.
This is an excellent analysis of the words of critics, Kittel’s words, other Christian historians, etc. Thank you again.
"What allows rhetoric to devolve into violence is when too many people say nothing." Are there guidelines, or a rule of thumb that educates an individual in how to not focus (and grasp onto) those few scattered, gleaming bits of straw, but to instead address the "pile of wood" right in front of us? To avoid extremes of saying nothing on the one hand, and overstating, exaggerating, or sensationalizing, on the other?
Kristen, thank you for the dialogue after the movie yesterday. I was the one who raised the question about further work on links to the Third Reich. I do appreciate that this is delicate territory--not wanting to jump to conclusions too easily and make broad stroke comparisons. TBH, I've been asking some of my good theologian friends about who we might read who they know of who can make the links theologically that historians are making--you, Heather Cox Richardson, others (know any theologians who are doing this?!). AND, I met Laura Fabrycky last summer ("The Keys to Bonhoeffer's House"), and that's what has started me on a journey of reading Bonhoeffer...and reading about him. I had long ago attended a class at Hope (even though I am a Calvin grad) that asked the question, "could the Holocaust happen again?"
If you haven't read (or listened) to Laura's book, maybe the first chapter alone would be intriguing as she tells of needing to have something to do to work against the Trump stuff in 2016.
Terry (my spouse) and I did visit the Bonhoeffer House last September, at Laura's suggestion. If you need an excuse to go to Berlin, this might be a good one!
Thank you so very much for your work!
Incisive and insightful. I read this right after Jemar Tisby's post today: Don't leave the white part out of White Christian Nationalism
Kristin, I appreciate your work. My sons and their wives are not Christ followers. I used this to help them understand what being evangelical is and what the problems are from distorted "Christian" thinking. Thank you for taking the time to write this and for speaking boldly when you think it will help.