Volker Kessler
Biographic Data
| ID | 6794777 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Volker Kessler |
| GIVEN NAMES | Volker |
| FAMILY NAME | Kessler |
| SIGNATURE | KESSLER V |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of South Africa |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8420-4566 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 12 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 6 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 12 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Let's do theology - as in the book of Job: Developing theology in dialogue
This article demonstrates how the Book of Job might inspire us to do theology in a different way. For nearly twomillennia, Christian theology has mainly been presented in monologues, either from the pulpit or in the classroom.The Book of Job offers an alternate way to develop theology – through dialogue. It is argued that the speechesof the three (or four) friends should be valued and viewed as an important part of the Book of Job. The faith-base…
The ethical debate about the use of autonomous weapon systems from a theological perspective
‘Pope calls on G7 leaders to ban use of autonomous weapons’ (The Guardian 2024 ) is the headline from statements which pope Franziskus made during the G7-summit on June 14th, 2024. In general it can be observed that the ethical debate concerning the use of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) is an extremely complex and contentious issue, raising both technical and ethical challenges. Through a comparative analysis of relevant literature the theologic…
Preface to the special issue ‘Sustainable leadership in times of uncertainty’
Finding oneself? Contemplating on paintings with a religious theme in clinical pastoral care
This article is based on intra- and interdisciplinary explorative research on contemplating art with a religious theme in the context of clinical pastoral care. The study, done in a rehabilitation hospital in Bavaria, Germany, explores the emotions, feelings, and thoughts aroused by contemplating on Rembrandt’s painting, The return of the prodigal son. It includes guided observations of the painting, voluntary feedback on forms, and eight intervi…
‘Women, forgive us’: A German case study
This article offers insight into the image of women in German conservative congregations, especially in the Brethren movement. It also describes the author’s personal journey to a position of strongly supporting female preaching and female leadership in churches. The article combines empirical facts and personal insights. It gives examples of androcentrism in German academic theology. The case study is on the Brethren movement in Germany and thei…
Mathematics declaring the glory of God
This article discussed the question ‘Does God speak through the language of mathematics?’ For centuries, mathematicians with different religious backgrounds would have answered this question in the affirmative. Due to changes in mathematics from the 19th century onwards, this question cannot be answered as easily as it used to be. If one regards mathematical concepts as creations of the human mind, it is difficult to argue that mathematical formu…
A Plea for Leadership Theories
This article addresses the challenge of teaching theory to people who view theorising sceptically. This is often the case in the context of leadership trainings. In this article, I critically analyse the trivialisation of leadership, often based on success stories, and offer seven methods to include theory in leadership classes, namely electing students; reversing the order: practice-theory instead of theory-practice; creating aha experiences wit…
The beauty of spiritual leadership: A theological-aesthetical approach to leadership
The aim of this article is to investigate two links between beauty and leadership: What is beautiful about spiritual leadership? Why should spiritual leaders bother about beauty? This study was motivated by the Bible verse 1 Timothy 3:1 and the observation that, at least in the German context, church leadership is no longer seen as a beautiful task. After a preliminary note on theological aesthetics, the paper discusses several approaches towards…
Spirituality in mathematics
This paper is about spirituality in mathematics. In a phenomenological approach, I analyse spiritual experiences that some mathematicians have while doing mathematics. By analysing autobiographical notes from Western mathematicians of the 20th and 21st century, I conclude that there are four possible gateways by which spirituality can enter mathematics: (1) pragmatic Platonism; (2) aesthetics, that is, the role of beauty within mathematics; (3) t…
Visionaries psychiatric wards are full of them: Religious terms in management literature
Contemporary management literature often makes use of strong religious vocabulary. This article will provide a critical analysis of this practice. It especially analyses the usage of three religious terms in management circles: vision a term omnipresent in leadership literature, metanoic organisations a notion found in books about change management, and evangelists a job title mentioned in job advertisements by companies such as Apple and Microso…
Christian Leadership as a trans-disciplinary field of study
The focus of this article is on Christian Leadership as a theological and academic field of study, rather than on the praxis of Christian leadership. We define Christian Leadership and note the varying ecclesial, theological and social contexts within which research in the field of Christian Leadership is conducted. We discuss some trends and areas of interest that emerge from within African and European contexts, especially those of South Africa…
Pitfalls in Biblical leadership
This article is about the pitfalls involved in writing a Christian handbook on leadership. By analysing some elements of the Rule of Benedict it is argued that it is impossible to write such a handbook without using non-Biblical sources. Moreover, there are typical pitfalls when authors attempt to develop a pure Biblical leadership theory. The first pitfall is typical of Christians representing Niebuhr s type of Christ against Culture . As early …
The ethical debate about the use of autonomous weapon systems from a theological perspective
‘Pope calls on G7 leaders to ban use of autonomous weapons’ (The Guardian 2024 ) is the headline from statements which pope Franziskus made during the G7-summit on June 14th, 2024. In general it can be observed that the ethical debate concerning the use of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) is an extremely complex and contentious issue, raising both technical and ethical challenges. Through a comparative analysis of relevant literature the theologic…
Christian Leadership as a trans-disciplinary field of study
The focus of this article is on Christian Leadership as a theological and academic field of study, rather than on the praxis of Christian leadership. We define Christian Leadership and note the varying ecclesial, theological and social contexts within which research in the field of Christian Leadership is conducted. We discuss some trends and areas of interest that emerge from within African and European contexts, especially those of South Africa…
Pitfalls in Biblical leadership
This article is about the pitfalls involved in writing a Christian handbook on leadership. By analysing some elements of the Rule of Benedict it is argued that it is impossible to write such a handbook without using non-Biblical sources. Moreover, there are typical pitfalls when authors attempt to develop a pure Biblical leadership theory. The first pitfall is typical of Christians representing Niebuhr s type of Christ against Culture . As early …
Pitfalls in Biblical leadership
This article is about the pitfalls involved in writing a Christian handbook on leadership. By analysing some elements of the Rule of Benedict it is argued that it is impossible to write such a handbook without using non-Biblical sources. Moreover, there are typical pitfalls when authors attempt to develop a pure Biblical leadership theory. The first pitfall is typical of Christians representing Niebuhr s type of Christ against Culture . As early …
Christian Leadership as a trans-disciplinary field of study
The focus of this article is on Christian Leadership as a theological and academic field of study, rather than on the praxis of Christian leadership. We define Christian Leadership and note the varying ecclesial, theological and social contexts within which research in the field of Christian Leadership is conducted. We discuss some trends and areas of interest that emerge from within African and European contexts, especially those of South Africa…
Visionaries psychiatric wards are full of them: Religious terms in management literature
Contemporary management literature often makes use of strong religious vocabulary. This article will provide a critical analysis of this practice. It especially analyses the usage of three religious terms in management circles: vision a term omnipresent in leadership literature, metanoic organisations a notion found in books about change management, and evangelists a job title mentioned in job advertisements by companies such as Apple and Microso…
Spirituality in mathematics
This paper is about spirituality in mathematics. In a phenomenological approach, I analyse spiritual experiences that some mathematicians have while doing mathematics. By analysing autobiographical notes from Western mathematicians of the 20th and 21st century, I conclude that there are four possible gateways by which spirituality can enter mathematics: (1) pragmatic Platonism; (2) aesthetics, that is, the role of beauty within mathematics; (3) t…
The beauty of spiritual leadership: A theological-aesthetical approach to leadership
The aim of this article is to investigate two links between beauty and leadership: What is beautiful about spiritual leadership? Why should spiritual leaders bother about beauty? This study was motivated by the Bible verse 1 Timothy 3:1 and the observation that, at least in the German context, church leadership is no longer seen as a beautiful task. After a preliminary note on theological aesthetics, the paper discusses several approaches towards…
A Plea for Leadership Theories
This article addresses the challenge of teaching theory to people who view theorising sceptically. This is often the case in the context of leadership trainings. In this article, I critically analyse the trivialisation of leadership, often based on success stories, and offer seven methods to include theory in leadership classes, namely electing students; reversing the order: practice-theory instead of theory-practice; creating aha experiences wit…
Finding oneself? Contemplating on paintings with a religious theme in clinical pastoral care
This article is based on intra- and interdisciplinary explorative research on contemplating art with a religious theme in the context of clinical pastoral care. The study, done in a rehabilitation hospital in Bavaria, Germany, explores the emotions, feelings, and thoughts aroused by contemplating on Rembrandt’s painting, The return of the prodigal son. It includes guided observations of the painting, voluntary feedback on forms, and eight intervi…
‘Women, forgive us’: A German case study
This article offers insight into the image of women in German conservative congregations, especially in the Brethren movement. It also describes the author’s personal journey to a position of strongly supporting female preaching and female leadership in churches. The article combines empirical facts and personal insights. It gives examples of androcentrism in German academic theology. The case study is on the Brethren movement in Germany and thei…
Mathematics declaring the glory of God
This article discussed the question ‘Does God speak through the language of mathematics?’ For centuries, mathematicians with different religious backgrounds would have answered this question in the affirmative. Due to changes in mathematics from the 19th century onwards, this question cannot be answered as easily as it used to be. If one regards mathematical concepts as creations of the human mind, it is difficult to argue that mathematical formu…
Preface to the special issue ‘Sustainable leadership in times of uncertainty’
Let's do theology - as in the book of Job: Developing theology in dialogue
This article demonstrates how the Book of Job might inspire us to do theology in a different way. For nearly twomillennia, Christian theology has mainly been presented in monologues, either from the pulpit or in the classroom.The Book of Job offers an alternate way to develop theology – through dialogue. It is argued that the speechesof the three (or four) friends should be valued and viewed as an important part of the Book of Job. The faith-base…
The ethical debate about the use of autonomous weapon systems from a theological perspective
‘Pope calls on G7 leaders to ban use of autonomous weapons’ (The Guardian 2024 ) is the headline from statements which pope Franziskus made during the G7-summit on June 14th, 2024. In general it can be observed that the ethical debate concerning the use of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) is an extremely complex and contentious issue, raising both technical and ethical challenges. Through a comparative analysis of relevant literature the theologic…
Philosophy (10 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Epistemology (6 works) · Philosophy (6 works) · Political science (5 works) · Aesthetics (3 works) · Beauty (3 works) · Environmental ethics (3 works) · History (3 works) · Theology (3 works)