Seminar on Kaj Munk and "the strong man"

Ribe Diocese is traditionally holding a seminar about Kaj Munk, and this year's theme is "the strong man - and his weaknesses".

Despite his physical weakness, Kaj Munk cultivated the idea of the strong person in the 30s. This cultivation later became problematic for him. Because the vitalism inherent in this idea also has its dark side. There can be so much life in life that it can develop into the destruction of the weak. Vitalism and its worship of the strong person is on its way back in today's worship of the body and its health. Kaj Munk's thoughts and reservations are once again brought to life.

Presentation of lectures

"The Ancient Game of Life" - about Kaj Munk's fascination with competition and foolishness

"When wills cross each other in the ancient Game of Life, it can also be yours that becomes supreme." This is how Kaj Munk writes in one of his most famous hunting letters about the hunter's life and death struggle with the hare. But Kaj Munk's hunting poetry holds the key to understanding much more than hare hunting. Munk's fascination with death and competition led him - along with many others - to admire the powerful political figures of the 1930s in Europe: Hitler and Mussolini. Looking at Kaj Munk's life through the prism of hunting literature, it turns out that some of the answers about Kaj Munk's complex personality can be found there, in 'The Ancient Game of Life' - a game that ended up being his destiny in more than one sense.

The intellectual history currents after the overcoming of nihilism

The biological/vitalistic vs. spiritual quest for the overcoming of nihilism, both of which were especially prevalent in Germany prior to the 1930s, and the traces can be traced to the present day, in new guises.

Today's program

9.00: Coffee and payment option

9.30 - 10.00: Welcome presentation by Hans Nørkjær Franch, parish priest at Aarhus Cathedral

10.00 - 11.00: The intellectual-historical currents after the overcoming of nihillism
Lecture by Mouritz Schramm, Associate Professor, SDU, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Language, Culture, History and Communication, Chairman of the Danish-German Society

11.00 - 11.15: Break

11.15 - 12.00: Joint discussion

12.00 - 13.15: Lunch (with the opportunity to visit the Museum Kaj Munks præstegård )

13.15 - 14.15: "The Ancient Game of Life" - about Kaj Munk's fascination with competition and folly
Lecture by Ida Røikjær Gammelmark, student of theology and affiliated with the Kaj Munk Research Center, AAU

14.15 - 14.30: Break

14.30 - 15.15: Joint discussion

15.30: Storytelling and devotion in Vedersø Church by Elise Lind Balslev, parish priest in Bramming

We're done by 16.00 at the latest

Practical info

Location: Kaj Munks Præstegård, Vesterhavsvej 7, 6990 Ulfborg

Price: DKK 200 (incl. catering)
Payment: MobilePay on the day

Registration: to Birgitte Nør Jahn, bikj@km.dk (no later than Wednesday, February 21)

Organizer: Ribe Stift in collaboration with the self-governing institution Kaj Munks Præstegård in Vedersø and Ringkøbing Fjord Museums.