Category Archives: christianity

The “National Socialist Bible” of 1940: An Experiment in Contextualization

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Ryan Buesnel

The so-called “Nazi Bible” of 1940 was an experiment in theological revision undertaken by scholars attached to the Institute for the Study and Elimination of Jewish Influence on German Church Life. The Institute, based in the Thüringian town of Eisenach, … Continue reading →

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Chuck deGroat and the Narcissistic Congregation

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Ryan Buesnel

I have recently had the opportunity to read Chuck deGroat’s confronting book When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse (1). DeGroat’s purpose in this study is twofold: first, he explores the how and the why … Continue reading →

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A Boy, a Preacher, and a Wizard.

Posted on August 9, 2020 by Ryan Buesnel

I remember 1997 well. It was the year that the Ricky Martin phenomenon hit the rural Victorian town of Echuca. The girls at my high school were losing their minds over how hot he was. Little did they know that … Continue reading →

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Writing Passionate History: The Example of Jules Isaac

Posted on December 11, 2019 by Ryan Buesnel

Must the writing of history always be undertaken in a spirit of cold detachment, or is there a legitimate place for the use of passion as a guiding force in the pursuit of historical inquiry? Traditional wisdom would suggest that … Continue reading →

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Die Botschaft Gottes: A Translation of Introductory Material

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Ryan Buesnel

In 1940, theologians from the Jena-based Institute for the Elimination of Jewish Influence on German Church Life published an edited version of New Testament titled Die Botschaft Gottes(The Message of God). [1] The purpose of the translation was to offer German Christians … Continue reading →

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A Haunting in an Empty Church

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Ryan Buesnel

When I was in primary school I used to practice my drums at Church. My Dad was the senior minister there, allowing me to be in the privileged position of being able to access the building out of hours. For … Continue reading →

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On Becoming Who One Is

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Ryan Buesnel

In 1971 the Who’s Pete Townshend wrote the following lyrics: ‘Please don’t say that you know me Cause I don’t even know myself.’ Known for his turbulent and often troubled life, Townshend’s angst and confusion reflect the difficult journey many … Continue reading →

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Why Study the Nazi Church?

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Ryan Buesnel

I have recently been asked on several occasions why I have decided to dedicate the next three years of my life to studying for a Ph.D. focussing the Lutheran State Church under Nazi rule. The question is asked by those … Continue reading →

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Historical Interpretation and the Example of the Holocaust

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Ryan Buesnel

In his brilliant panorama of German cultural and intellectual history, Peter Watson draws attention to a dimension of the Holocaust tragedy which is seldom acknowledged. The Holocaust, suggests Watson, ‘operates as an obstacle, a stumbling block, a reflecting mirror, that … Continue reading →

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Modern Circles of Hell: Some New Proposals

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Ryan Buesnel

As Dante’s tour guide through hell, the Roman poet Virgil introduces the former to the nine circles of torment that will face the condemned upon death. These concentric circles roughly correspond to the seven deadly sins, but are extended to … Continue reading →

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