On June 26th, I had the opportunity to discuss the life and work of the “Critical Theologian of the Cross,” Jürgen Moltmann, with critical theorist and theologian, Rudolf J. Siebert. Moltmann, who was influential in the development of Liberation Theology as well as the Christian-Marxist dialogue movement, passed away in Tübingen on June 3rd, 2024. We dedicated this discourse to his memory. This discourse was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
I recently had the opportunity to discuss the on-going culture wars (kulturkampfen) with Critical Theorist, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert. We discussed the history of culture wars, their relevance to current politics in the United States and Europe – especially regarding right-wing populism and Neo-fascism, and possible future of the culture wars. This discourse was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
On April 17th, 2024, I was awarded two important awards at The University of Olivet: 1) Doctors Gorton and Peggy Riethmiller Award for Excellence in Teaching, and 2) the Presidential Distinguished Medalist – Most Influential Professor. The first is voted upon by the student body, and the second is given by a top five graduate of the senior class. I was nominated for the latter by Chelsea Wiltse, one of my Philosophy and Religious Studies students. Below is me at Convocation with Sydney Lynch, one of my very gifted and talented students, as well as a dinner I had with The University of Olivet President Steven Corey and Kelly Corey, with my students, Chelsey Wiltse, Taylor Darhower, Garrett Ennis, Sydney Lynch, and Sarah Zaharian, as well as my wife.
On March 16th, I had the distinct honor to once again join with Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert in a lengthy conversation. This time, we discussed “What is Anti-Semitism,” its history, development, and current use and abuse. This discourse was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
On January 27, 2024, I had the pleasure to meet with Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, my doktorvater, for a follow-up discussion to our previous discourse on “The Temptation of Fascism.” This time, we discussed the history and importance of the “Democratic Response to the Far-Right and Fascism,” from the Third Reich until today. It is always a great honor to be a part of these events, and I look forward to doing many more in the future. For more information on Dr. Siebert, please see his website: www.dialectical-religion.org
On January 12th, 2024, I had the great pleasure of presenting my work at the “Fire on the Mountain” conference at the University of Colorado-Boulder, sponsored by the Center for Media, Religion, and Culture. My presentation was on the Neo-Eurasianism of Alexander Dugin and the temptation is presents for many on the Left, who, like Alexander Dugin, are critics of the Neo-Liberal hegemony, but are unaware of the fascist roots of Dugin’s philosophy. The presentation was well received and we had a fruitful discussion afterwards. While it was bitterly cold, the fires of academic inquiry kept us warm! Much gratitude to Nabil Echchaibi for organizing the conference and CU-Boulder for hosting it.
I recently had the opportunity to discuss “The Fascist Temptation” with Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, critical theorist, sociologist, and theologian. In the video we discuss the issue of fascism from Siebert’s youth in the Third Reich to the present moment. As a life-long anti-fascist, Dr. Siebert understands fascism not only as an ideology, but also a seductive experience, one that remains a danger especially within democratic societies and must be rejected and continuously fought against. This discourse was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
For more information on Dr. Siebert and his work, check out his website: dialectical-religion.org
On March 28th, 2023, I had the opportunity to present my work on Russian political theology at the “Political Theologies after Christendom” conference at New College at the University of Oxford, UK. My presentation covered the development of the idea of the “Katechon,” first devised by St. Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians, later to be politicized and “Nazified” by Carl Schmitt, only to be now invoked by the fascist Russian philosopher, Alexander Dugin. The later sees the Russian Empire, and the current Russian Federation, as the “restrainer” of the Anti-Christ, i.e., the collective West and most specifically, the United States of America. Thinking of Russia as having such a God-bearing mission transforms Russia’s genocidal war of aggression against Ukraine into a soteriological project sanctioned by God: a perverse justification for mass slaughter, rape, and child abduction.
The conference was a wonderful experience. I had the great pleasure to be in the presence of some of the most profound scholars, many of whom came from Ukraine and Russia. Our discussions were lively, well-informed, and intellectually stimulating. Thank you Marietta van der Tol and Sophia Johnson for coordinating the event and New College/Oxford for hosting us.
On March 1st, I had the opportunity to sit down with the Critical Theorist, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, to discuss the Frankfurt School’s attempt to rescue religion and the enlightenment through the determinate negation of religion. Unlike their immediate predecessors, including Feuerbach, Marx, Lenin, Nietzsche, and Freud, who thought religion had to be abstractly negated from society, the first generation of Critical Theorists – especially Adorno, Horkheimer, Benjamin, Fromm, Löwenthal – saw something in religion worthy of being rescued. Such semantic and semiotic elements were consequently translated into post-metaphysical language via social and political philosophy, wherein they played essential parts of Critical Theory. Check out our discussion on YouTube:
The Frankfurt School and the Dialectics of Religion – A conversation with Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert
dustinjbyrd
Dustin J. Byrd, Ph.D. 