“I wish we were braver as a Church.”
Interview: AlumniBasel*
Priscilla Schwendimann came to Basel to study theology. Today, as a pastor in the Reformed Church, she advocates for joyful and empowering faith.
AlumniBasel: Ms. Schwendimann, you grew up in the Middle East. What was it that brought you to Basel?
Priscilla Schwendimann: I wanted to study theology and began studying at the State-Independent Theological University of Basel (STH Basel). I realized early on that I also wanted to study at a state university. Their approaches are quite different: STH Basel had a familial feel and there was a culture of intensive discussion on how the topics we studied influenced our personal beliefs. The Faculty of Theology at the University of Basel focused on the historical and critical analysis of biblical texts and on the history of Christianity.
What perceptions of theology do you see among the general public?
Few people know what theology actually is; some find it “superfluous”. I think that’s a shame, and I think it’s dangerous. Our culture is heavily influenced by Christianity. It’s crucial that we know about the things that have shaped our culture and how and why we think the way we do. Knowledge is a basic requirement in being able to form a mature opinion. The study of theology provides us with precisely this knowledge and forces us to reflect on ourselves. It’s a broad field of study, covering ancient languages, textual comprehension, history, and both systematic and practical approaches.
What significance do these thousand-year-old texts have today?
Religion is gaining relevance among young people again. They are familiar with religious texts and want to discuss them. If we have no knowledge, then we are rendered speechless and can’t express ourselves on an equal footing. We are no longer taken seriously as a conversational partner and others will fill this vacuum.
This is not about having a faith of one’s own. It’s enough to be able to demonstrate that I have another hermeneutic approach to a religious text. Hermeneutic means that I’m aware of why and how I’m reading this text. Often, we look at religious texts and realize that we’ve never asked ourselves how we want to read these texts. Now more than ever, critical engagement with religious texts should be part of general education. If the topic of religion is banished from schools, young people will get their information from other sources, such as social media. There, they may find statements taken completely out of context – and this can be dangerous.
What role does faith play in modern times?
We rarely talk about our beliefs in Switzerland. Faith is personal, and often private. I used to make a podcast called “Holy Shit,” and that brought me into contact with young people.
Many of them feel lonely and are plagued by self-doubt. Pastoral care is in high demand. How wonderful it is to be able to tell them that I believe there is a God, who made us all amazing and unique. I’m allowed to be myself, without being forced. Faith gifts me this freedom. I don’t need to prove it. I’m allowed to believe and that gives me hope.
But church membership continues to decline?
There are many reasons for this. One is demographic: More people are dying than are being born. Others may leave the Church because they have been disappointed. Personally, I wish that, as a Church, we were braver, more joyful and more diverse. We should preach the Gospel more clearly and leave behind old structures so that we can convey our beliefs in a way that fits in with people’s lives, including on social media. It’s not about telling people what’s wrong and what’s right, but about empowering them to develop their own beliefs. The role of the Church is to create a community in which people feel at home, in which they can be exactly who and how they are. Because we have good news to share: God sees everyone and accepts us just as we are.
*This interview was conducted in writing.
More articles in this issue of UNI NOVA (November 2024).