Änne Osterberg's two-part work explores the psychological impact of the Third Reich, replacement theology, Jewish religious roots, and the relationship between Christians and Israel. God played a significant role in the book's creation. Theologian Tobias Krämer spoke with the author about this and why Osterberg is so concerned with touching the hearts of her readers.
Tobias Krämer: That you wrote this book is no coincidence. What motivated you to do so?
Änne Osterberg: Yes, God had prepared the writing of this book long before I could recognize His plan. Three things in particular gave me important food for thought: First, it was my ministry to people with dementia. I sensed that they carried many emotional burdens. Then—and also inspired by Jobst Bittner's book, "The Blanket of Silence"—I began to examine my own family history. I was troubled by the question of whether there might also be unspoken legacies from the Third Reich in my family of origin. And finally, I came to the shocking realization—this time through a book by a secular psychotherapist—that I, too, as a Christian counselor, had become an "accomplice to silence"! That was the decisive impetus for putting my thoughts down in writing.
How did you approach the topic?
The topic is very complex and encompasses several major thematic areas. When I truly grasped its vastness, I was close to giving up. Whenever a thought crossed my mind that seemed particularly important, I quickly jotted down notes. A mountain of papers (555 to be exact!) had accumulated. But giving up easily or doing things halfway isn't my style. So I sorted the notes and thought about creating an outline. Once I had a rough outline, I began to write. I had read many books on the subject beforehand and was able to incorporate numerous quotes as evidence. Most importantly, I knew I wouldn't write without Jesus guiding me. I didn't write a single day without praying first. Throughout the entire process, I was accompanied by wonderful people. I am very grateful for that.
Her book is truly a "great work". What can the reader expect in terms of content?
As I mentioned before, it's a complex topic, and I'm covering a broad range of subjects. First, I'll share with the readers how God led me to this subject. I hope that many readers will have "aha" moments as a result. God often speaks quietly and patiently, long before we consciously notice. Therefore, the many examples in the following chapters focus primarily on raising awareness: In most families in our country, there is unspoken guilt and suffering from the time of the Third Reich, which continues to affect generations today. This often manifests as psychological problems or even illnesses. How do we deal with this? At the end of the first part, I offer answers to this question from a biblical perspective.
In the second part, I write about the internal and external changes that followed. I begin by delving deep into the church history and theological background of Hitler's Reich. Then I discuss what a new understanding of faith might look like. Finally, I describe a change in attitude, especially towards Jews and Israel.
You have divided your work into two parts: a psychological-pastoral one and a biblical-theological one. How did this come about, and what is the connection between them?
People I've told that I'm working on a book have, of course, asked me: What's your book about? When I've answered that it deals with the psychological impact of the Third Reich, with replacement theology, with our Jewish roots, and our relationship with Israel, the next question is often: What does one thing have to do with the other? That's an important question! But the very fact that it's asked reveals the whole dilemma: We still find it difficult to think, or it doesn't even occur to us, that National Socialism, the Holocaust, and even the currently rapidly resurging antisemitism could have anything to do with Christianity. In the first part, I demonstrate that we still carry within us a frequently debilitating psychological and spiritual legacy. The fact that such unparalleled guilt could even arise in our Christian-influenced culture has a deeper cause and a history! The second part begins with this backstory of theological errors and guilt-ridden church history, culminating in the Shoah. I then show how we can leave these old paths of error behind, both spiritually and practically.
The title suggests that you are concerned with the hearts of your readers. If one takes your statements to heart – what can happen and where does one "end up"?
As a Christian counselor, I chose a guiding principle (from Ezekiel 36:26) which, in short, is: “I will give you a new heart.” This great promise of God to His people Israel also applies to everyone in other nations who trusts in the God of Israel. Specifically related to my message in this book, this can initially mean that readers discover in retrospect: “My family and I are inextricably linked to the sinful history of our people; the Nazis weren't just the others. Looking at one's own heart, this can be frightening: Even within myself are thoughts and predispositions for similar behavior. Perhaps this has even already led to sinful behavior. This is the source of my problems!” Whoever goes to Jesus with all this and accepts His grace can experience amazing things. A heart healed by Him is then manifested, for example, in the fact that the so-called Old Testament becomes vividly new, important, understandable, and relevant. With such a new heart, one can discover that Jesus did not want to separate us Christians from His people and make us enemies of the Jewish people, but rather that He welcomes us into His eternal covenant with Israel. Paul expresses this metaphorically by describing us non-Israelites as ignoble branches grafted onto the noble olive tree of Israel, of which Jesus is the root and trunk. Ultimately, therefore, it is possible to become, through Jesus, the overcomer of separation, guilt, and suffering.
If you could express your mission, your heartfelt desire, in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
I hope that many more hearts will be healed from the burdens of our past by returning to our Jewish Messiah Jesus and to His whole Word, so that He can reunite us firmly and allow us to grow together with His people.
Thank you so much for the conversation!
You can find books by Änne Osterberg, as well as other exciting publications on the topic of Israel and Judaism, in our shop!
This article first appeared in our newspaper "Israelaktuell," issue 126. You can order the newspaper free of charge here: https://csi-aktuell.de/israelaktuell. We would also be happy to send you several copies for distribution.
