New Video (April 13, 2024): In the new video, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert talks to Dr. Dustin J. Byrd about St. Augustine’s Just War Theory: Past, Present, and Future, as well as its developments into secular international law. Additionally, they discuss the many times the Just War Theory is ignored during war, especially in the latest wars of aggression and genocides. The event was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (March 16, 2024): In light of the recent war in Palestine/Israel, Dr. Siebert’s latest discourse discusses, “What is Anti-Semitism,” drawing on his first-hand experience of living in the Third Reich and his decades long study of Anti-Semitism. This event was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (February 24, 2024): In the third and final installment of the “fascism” series, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discusses the “Christian Resistance to Fascism,” from the Third Reich until the current era. This event was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (January 27, 2024): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert sits down with Dr. Dustin J. Byrd to discuss “The Democratic Response to the Far-Right and Fascism,” in which they discuss the history of democracy, the challenge the far-right poses to democracy, and what the democracies of the world need to do to resist the fascist temptation. This event was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (January 21, 2024): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert participated in the seminar, “Erich Fromm, Religion, and Judaism,” sponsored by the Erich Fromm Society of North America. Siebert’s discussion covered Fromm’s dialectical reading of religion, especially the need for a new synthesis of humanistic religion and Enlightenment thought: “Erich Fromm’s Dialectical Attitude toward Religion.”
New Video (October 28, 2023): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discusses what he calls “The Fascist Temptation” that is an ever-growing presence in the democracies of the West. He is joined by Dr. Dustin J. Byrd in the video sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (October 5, 2023): On October 5, 2023, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert celebrated his 96th birthday (October 1, 1927) with friends in Kalamazoo at the House of Peace. Below is a link to the video of his speech: Rudolf J. Siebert’s 96th Birthday Speech.
New Video (September 28, 2023): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert visited the “Post-Holocaust Philosophy” class taught by Dr. Dustin J. Byrd at The University of Olivet to discuss his experiences living in the Third Reich, his time in the German military, and his experiences with Jews and anti-Semitism. The link to the video can be found here: Post-Holocaust Philosophy.
New Video (September 9, 2023): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discusses his long friendship and collaboration with the critical theologian, Gregory Baum, in the new video: Gregory Baum: Life, Work, and Friendship. Among the topics discussed is Gregory’s biography, his work as a “peritus” (theological advisor) during the Second Vatican Council, his religious ecumenicism, and many more. He is joined by Dr. Dustin J. Byrd. The discourse was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (June 28, 2023): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discusses the topic of “Liberation Theology: Past, Present, and Future,” with Dr. Dustin J. Byrd. Among the topics discussed, were the Marxist influence on liberation theology; the opposition to liberation theology; its history in Latin America and Germany, as well as the future of liberation theology. The discourse was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (May 4, 2023): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discusses the history and potential end of the Constantinian Church, as it was so created when Emperor Constantine in the 4th century legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, thus laying the groundwork for the marriage of state and religion. “The End of the Constantinian Church,” was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (March 1, 2023): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discusses the Frankfurt School’s “determinate negation” or religion, wherein the first and second generation of critical theorists translate certain semantic and semiotic elements of Judaism and Christianity into their post-metaphysical social and political philosophy. “The Frankfurt School and the Dialectics of Religion,” was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
Death in the Family (February 2023): It is with a heavy heart that we remember the death of Carol Joy (Baker) Shoup, the mother of Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert’s longtime assistant and dear friend, Karen Shoup-Pilarski. Carol passed away on February 6th, 2023, and was remembered in a funeral mass on February 10th, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Fenton, MI. The video of the mass can be found here: Funeral Mass – Carol Joy Shoup. Her obituary can be found here. Requiem aeternam, dona eis Domine.
New Video (January 11, 2023): In this introspective reflection, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discusses the life, work, and legacy of Joseph Ratzinger – Pope Benedict XVI. The video, entitled “Pope Benedict XVI: From the Third Reich to the Papacy,” was sponsored by the Institute for Critical Social Theory and Ekpyrosis Press.
New Video (December 17, 2022): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discusses the authoritarian personality in the seminar entitled, “Social Theory and the Fundamental Challenges to Humanity,” sponsored by the Institute for Critical Social Theory and Ekpyrosis Press. He was joined by Dr. Dustin J. Byrd, Dr. Seyed Javad Miri, Dr. Michael Naughton, and Dr. Mehdi Shariati.
New Video (December 14, 2022): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discusses the history and role of Freudian psychoanalysis in Critical Theory with Dr. Dustin J. Byrd. The video is entitled, “Freud and the Frankfurt School.” It was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (November 2, 2022): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert sat down with Dr. Dustin J. Byrd to discuss Siebert’s latest research on the “Authoritarian Personality.” The discourse, now available on YouTube, is entitled: “What is the Authoritarian Personality.” It was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.
New Video (October 5, 2022): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert sat down with Dr. Dustin J. Byrd to discuss Siebert’s new book, “Hegel and the Critical Theory of Religion.” The discourse, now on YouTube, is entitled: “The Relevance of Hegel Today.” His book, published by Ekpyrosis Press.
New Video (September 29, 2022): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert turned 95 in October 2022. He celebrated his milestone birthday with friends, colleagues, and former students at his “House of Peace” in Kalamazoo. The video of his speech in celebration of his birthday can be found here: 95th Birthday Speech.
New Video (February 2022): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discussed his new book, “Hegel and the Critical Theory of Religion,” published by Ekpyrosis Press in 2021, with the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Ekpyrosis Press, Dr. Dustin J. Byrd. In the discourse, they discussed Dr. Siebert’s discovery of Hegel during World War II, Hegel’s influence on the Frankfurt School, as well as Hegel’s theodicy, and many other topics. The video can be found on Ekpyrosis Press’ YouTube page.
New Chapter now in paperback: Rudolf J. Siebert’s chapter, co-authored with Michael R. Ott and Dustin J. Byrd, in Jeremiah Morelock’s book How to Critique Authoritarian Populism: Methodologies of the Frankfurt School, will be released in paperback in March, 2022, by Haymarket Books in Chicago. The chapter is entitled, “Mythology, Dialectic, and Enlightenment: Determinate Negation.”
Call for Funding (2021): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert wishes to fund an endowed chair in the Comparative Religion department at Western Michigan University, where he taught for fifty-four years. He needs your help! This “Critical Theory of Religion and Society” endowed chair would continue the work he has developed throughout his long career. If you are interested in helping endow this chair, please contact the administrator of this site, at dustinjbyrd@gmail.com.
New Video (August 2021): A new video of Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert has been added to the Rudolf J. Siebert Audio-Visual Archive. His presentation, “On Martyrdom and the Friendly Jewish Lady of Frankfurt” was part of a global roundtable entitled, “Martyrdom and the Dialectics of Religion,” sponsored Ekpyrosis Press. The presentation can be found here.
New Book (September 2021): This volume is a collection of Dr. Siebert’s most important articles concerning the influence on, discourse between, and determinate negation of Hegel in the Critical Theory of Religion and Society. The essays contained range from the 1970s to 2021. It is published by Ekpyrosis Press: www.ekpyrosispress.com
New Video (July 2021): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert joined an international group of scholars to discuss “Critical Theory and the Human Condition.” His presentation, entitled, “Marx & Freud, Horkheimer & Adorno: Beyond the Historical Gender Struggle,” can be found here. The link to the entire conference can be found here.
New Book: The paperback version of Dr. Siebert’s festschrift, The Critique of Religion and Religion’s Critique: On Dialectical Religiology, edited by Dustin J. Byrd, is now available from Haymarket Books. www.haymarketbooks.org
New Video (June 2021): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert joined Jeremiah Morelock, Dalal Sarnou, and Dustin J. Byrd for a discussion concerning the relationship between religion and gender. Dr. Siebert’s presentation, “Religion and Gender: A Critical Theory Perspective,” can be found here: Religion and Gender: A Critical Theory Perspective
New Video (April 2021): Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert participated in a roundtable discourse with international scholars entitled, “Critical Theory Today: Heritage and Usage.” This discourse was sponsored by St. Petersburg State University, Russia, and took place on April 26, 2021. Video of Dr. Siebert’s portion can be found here: Critical Theory of Religion: Union, Disunion, and Reunion
New Social Media (March 2021): dialectical-religion.org is now on Facebook. Join us there to stay up to date on the Critical Theory of Religion and Society: Rudolf J. Siebert on FaceBook
New Book Chapter (February 2021): Dr. Siebert co-authored the book chapter “Mythology, Dialectic, and Enlightenment: Determinate Negation,” with Michael R. Ott and Dustin J. Byrd. It has been published with Brill in the book How to Critique Authoritarian Populism: Methodologies of the Frankfurt School, edited by Jeremiah Morelock. How to Critique Authoritarian Populism
New Book (Fall 2020): A Festschrift in honor of the long career of Rudolf J. Siebert, entitled The Critique of Religion and Religion’s Critique: On Dialectical Religiology, edited by Dustin J. Byrd, was released. (Leiden, Netherlands: Brill Publishing, 2020). Critique of Religion and Religion’s Critique
Honors: In November of 2020, the city of Kalamazoo, MI, honored Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert and his wife Margaret with a plaque on a bench in the northeast corner of Frays Park, close to the Siebert family residence.
- Four part Lecture Series (2016): “Pope Francis: Restoration, Reform, or Revolution,” has been added to the Rudolf J. Siebert Audio-Visual Archive (Jan. 2, 2021). Here is the link to Lecture 1: Pope Francis: Restoration, Reform, or Revolutionary – Part 1.
- Forthcoming Book Chapter (2021): “A Dialectical Approach to the Roman Religion of Utility: The Hinges of History,” co-authored with Dustin J. Byrd, in the forthcoming book Dialectics of Religion and the Roman World, edited by Dies van der Linde (University of Amsterdam) and Francesca Mazzilli (Durham University). It is to be published by Franz Steiner Verlag (Germany), in their series “Potsdamer Altertumswissenschaftliche Beiträge”
- Video (Dec. 27, 2019): Rudolf J. Siebert’s “Retirement Speech.”
- Article and Video (Dec. 18, 2019): “Finding Common Ground”
- Article (Nov. 19, 2019): “Former Students Honor Legacy of World Renown WMU Religion and Society Professor.”
- Video (Nov. 17, 2019): “Critical Theory and the Study of Religion: Conference in Honor of Rudolf J. Siebert.”
- Article (Oct. 22, 2019): “WMU Professor, A German Soldier during World War II, Made Theory of Peace his Life’s Work.”
- Article (Oct., 2019): “Beloved WMU Religion and Society Professor Retires after a more-than five Decade Career.”
- Article (Dec. 15, 2015): WMU Professor did “duties as a soldier to protect civilians” in Germany World War II
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