In her inaugural lecture, Van den Berg argues for taking boredom seriously as an analytical tool that reveals hidden mechanisms of exclusion.
From political sermon to broader analysis
Van den Berg opens with a current event: a sermon by Bishop Mariann Budde during Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration. In it, Budde called for mercy for vulnerable groups such as migrants and LGBTQ+ persons. "Trump thought the sermon was boring. That dismissive reaction from political power shows how calls for justice often fail when they clash with dominant power structures," Van den Berg said.
This case prompts a broader analysis of the role of religion and gender in contemporary political developments, in which anti-gender discourses and authoritarian tendencies are becoming increasingly visible. Van den Berg cites the work of philosopher Judith Butler to illustrate how fear of gender diversity can be used strategically to mobilize social unrest and mask other structural problems.
Boredom as a key concept
Central to Van den Berg's research is an unexpected theme: boredom. Whereas "boring" is often seen as a matter of personal taste or lack of attention, she argues that it is also a social and cultural phenomenon. Boredom, she says, arises not only from repetition or loss of meaning, but also from exclusion and lack of engagement. "Within cultural studies and affect theory, boredom is understood as an emotion shaped by social structures. Consider gender roles, class differences or colonial traditions that determine which stories are central and which are not. When only a limited perspective is dominant, it can lead to stagnation - and thus boredom."
Religion, church and "Jesus fatigue"
An important part of Van den Berg's research focuses on Christianity. Historically, boredom is not a new phenomenon within this religion, but in contemporary Holland, the feeling seems to be more prevalent among churchgoers. Some see boredom as a reason to leave the church, others argue precisely for renewal of rituals and language, still others for a more pronounced role for the church in the struggle for social justice.
In this regard, Van den Berg introduces the concept of "Jesus fatigue." "Both traditional and progressive interpretations of Jesus can paradoxically lead to predictable and closed narratives. When Jesus is always presented as the ultimate, infallible authority - regardless of ideological direction - it can hinder critical reflection and innovation," Van den Berg said.
The yawn as a form of resistance
Van den Berg argues that boredom should not necessarily be fought with more entertainment or spectacle. Instead, boredom can function as a "diagnostic signal" indicating exclusion, loss of meaning or lack of social relevance.
Allowing and exploring boredom, according to Van den Berg, creates space for new forms of community and theology that put plurality and experimentation at the center. Therefore, the true opposite of boredom is not entertainment, but liveliness: engagement, creativity and openness to change.
Van den Berg will hold her inaugural lecture Thursday, March 12, in the auditorium of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.