Kapot saai. Een theologie van verveling als belichaamd verzet.
How boredom can change the church
Professor of Religion, Gender and Sexuality Mariecke van den Berg investigates where religious boredom comes from, particularly within Christianity and the church. She argues that boredom can be related to power and processes of exclusion. The same stories, images, and rituals often circulate within the church. Not infrequently, these are shaped by the people who historically held authority in the church, such as theoretically educated men.
The perspectives of others (women, LGBTQ+ people, practically trained individuals) are much less part of the shared narrative. Boredom is therefore not merely subjective. It can be the result of excluding minority perspectives, and may even help maintain exclusion. As an example, Van den Berg explores the concept of “being tired of Jesus.” Many “closed narratives” are told precisely about Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. When boredom is allowed to surface, these narratives can be opened up.