In this seminar, the book of Susannah Heschel entitled "The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany" (2010) will be read and discussed.

Susannah Heschel, Professor of Jewish Studies, has analysed the history of a propaganda institute, the so-called "Institute for the Study and Eradication of Jewish Influence on German Religious Life" which tried to develope a Volkisch-German and anti-Semitic theology during the Nazi era. For this purpose, the institute created a new version of the Bible and the hymnbook.

Heschel’s study provides insights into the bizarre world of ideas of Nazi-Protestants, who thought that a non-Jewish ("Aryan") identity of the historical Jesus could be demonstrated. The influence of this institute, its networks and the role of the specific theologians in post-war Germany will be scrutinized in the seminar.

The reading of the book allows the participants to discuss a disastrous decade of German history from a theological perspective. At the same time it might also shed light onto the ambivalence of present forms of theological trainings.

The seminar also offers the opportunity to acquire an English vocabulary in the field of theology / church history and to practice this in conversation. Basic knowledge of English is required. Depending on the constellation of the group, the language of the seminar will be English and/or German.