The deliberate demonisation of the Christian churches

Hildegund Keul is a professor of fundamental theology and comparative religious studies at the University of Würzburg. She has now scrutinised an AfD election campaign leaflet in Saxony-Anhalt and analysed the potential consequences for the churches should the party win the election. She has published the results of her research on feinschwarz.net, a theological feature section.

“In the leaflet, the churches are depicted in AI-generated images as being controlled by the devil,” says Hildegund Keul, describing the subject of her study. In one image, a man with a beard and a tunic bows his head towards the whispers of the horned one. In another, Satan measures his strength against someone with a halo. This calls for St George, who, from his horse, stabs the monster with a long spear.

A charismatic rule

According to Keul, it is apparent at first glance that this demonisation is directed at the churches. But the strategy goes further than that, for it serves what the sociologist Max Weber called ‘charismatic rule’. ‘This form of rule is characterised by the fact that the followers who support the charismatic leaders are the very ones who create them in the first place,’ says the theologian.

Anyone aspiring to charismatic leadership therefore needs a committed, passionate following. To achieve this, the AfD emphasises that we are living in a particular state of emergency – effectively a state of exception of an ethical, political or religious nature. “And what could be worse, in terms of religious politics in Saxony-Anhalt, than Satan himself having a stranglehold on the churches and thereby also exerting influence over politics?”

In her article, Hildegund Keul highlights how far-right groups exploit religious motives to drive forward an ‘authoritarian transformation’ of society.

It can be found here.

Contact

Prof. Dr Hildegund Keul, University of Würzburg, Chair of Fundamental Theology and Comparative Religious Studies, hildegund.keul@uni-wuerzburg.de