Rewriting Jesus - Forgotten Pasts ans Possible Futures

Conference on 26–28 September 2024

In search of the historical Jesus

What can we actually know about the historical Jesus? Do our own contexts and interests shape the inquiry into the historical Jesus to a much greater extent than is the case with other research topics? And: Who is (still) interested in the historical Jesus? Or: Have believers and scholars who are interested in the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth not understood what it is actually about?

These and many other questions were discussed at the conference “Rewriting Jesus. Forgotten Pasts and Possible Futures”, which took place from 26-28 September in Münster and was organized by Brandon Massey and Wolfgang Grünstäudl. During the discussions within the international and interdenominational group, it became clear that a multi-perspective approach to the question of the historical Jesus is of eminent importance. This opens up new perspectives on the historical Jesus and at the same time does justice to the plurality of people who are 'searching' for the historical Jesus. For example, the reasons for being interested in the historical Jesus vary. There is pure historical interest as well as personal-religious motives and the hope of laying the foundations for contemporary theology. The contexts in which the historical Jesus is studied also differ. They include academic and non-academic contexts and Christian theology as well as Jewish studies.

The purely academic context of the conference did not detract from its multi-perspectivity. On the one hand, the social and religious-historical environment of the historical Jesus (C. Bonar/Medford, O. Dyma/Münster) and contemporary literary genres (E.-M. Becker/Münster, M. Becker/Heidelberg, T. Nicklas/Regensburg) were emphasized in their significance for research on the historical Jesus. On the other hand, aspects of the reception history of the historical Jesus (R. Zwick/Münster, T. Mock/Munich) and of the Gospels (R. Walsh/Miami, J. van Maaren/Vienna) were examined. The lectures on the history of research (J. Crossley/Norway, S. Huebenthal/Passau, W. Grünstäudl/Münster) and on methodological questions (B. Massey/Chicago) opened up a further perspective. Finally, some may be surprised that feminist exegesis (E. Puschautz/Vienna) can also contribute new perspectives to historical Jesus research.

Research into the historical Jesus can now look back on over 200 years of history with different phases. The final discussion suggested that the most recent phase will not be the last. In this, the participants not only raised theoretical questions about new methodologies, but also practical questions about “queer” influences in a broader sense and the influence of new (social) media.

Report: Julia Pape
Flyer of the conference

Impressions of the conference:

Reflection and Outlook of the conference.
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