New Teacher Found a Path to the Brim of the World: Løgumkloster
You could say, that this new teacher was quite a catch for Løgumkloster Højskole. Because: What is there to do at the brim of the world? But Martin Bonde Christensen looks at this in a different way. “A brim,” he says, “can be compared to an edge, so in some strange way, I’m now living on the edge.” I find this comparison brilliant – why didn’t anyone ever think about that?
Here you can see the new teacher, Martin Bonde Christensen, in front of the Octagon. And a funny detail: You can see the front of Anja’s mother’s car at the white House in the background.
It is mostly a pleasure to welcome new teachers to the staff, though some might say, “why can’t we keep the good old one’s?” Well, here’s a fact of life: sometimes old teachers leave. That is sad, but it’s how reality is, and eventhough Løgumkloster Højskole tries to build a counterreality, the other reality tends to “drop by” and mess everything up. So we needed to employ a new teacher, and are proud to present to you: Martin Bonde Christensen, teaching theology, religion and existence. He has been among the teaching staff since February – and he seems to enjoy it!
Tr@f met him one rainy August afternoon. It turned out to be “an afternoon on the edge,” as our photographer later defined our time together.
How did you end up at the brim of the world?
“You know… A brim can be compared to an edge, so in some strange way, I’m now living on the edge. Living on the edge, is really what højskole is all about. Going here will challenge you, you’ll meet people from everywhere – all over the world – and you’re own opinions might be questioned in a way, you never thought about. So the reality you constructed will probably fall apart: And what is left? The edge! And on this edge, you’re then trying to balance. Hopefully, you’ll fall, because underneath you’ll fall into the arms of your friends, into what I call the arms of fellowship. With this fellowship as the true reality, you’ll experience what freedom really is. I’ve experienced these things through my whole life, but it’s a special and healthy opportunity here on the edge of society.”
So, already the guy is talking about deep stuff. He has studied theology in Århus, Denmark, and Heidelberg, Germany, focusing on Narrative Theology in the New Testament, the Philosophy of Existence and the Doctrine of Sin, understood as estrangement from how we essentially want to be.
“My job here, is to sit and talk about life and existence. That’s what we do. Drink a cup of coffee and discuss our lives in the light of Heideggers concept of Dasein. I love it. This is also a good counterweight to what I define the “Now-Wave”. I consider the “Now-Wave” to be the greatest threat to the human spirit in our time, and it’s about being present now. But mankind is special, because we can build new realities in time and space, but only because we are historical creatures, which means that we are relating to future and past. This is also why sin is so important. Without history and spirit there would be no sin. Sin can only occur if we are relating to ourselves as a relation between flesh and soul, aware of eternity and our own finitude. Explained in a popular way: We know, that we’ll die!! On the list of the most important discoveries of humankind, sin is on place 10.”
This is truly edgy!
Here Martin is teaching the radical message, that we are to love our enemies. Without this love, the peoples of the world will never be reconciled. The problem, though, is that mankind will never be able to truly love it’s worst enemies. But the first and hardest step, is to realise that.
Entrances and escapes
“Folkehøjskole is about entering and escaping,” Martin explains, “you enter this new chapter of life – a very special chapter defined by escape from regular society to this countersociety or counterreality. Here everyone will develop, but as themselves as part of the community, not because they are adapting to the society in a better way.”
Martin at the entrance. “Folkehøjskole is about entering and escaping.”
Martin entered this life on October 28th 1979. He doesn’t know, when he’ll escape:
“I don’t consider death an escape. Why would I want to escape?”
By escape I didn’t mean death, I meant how long you’re planing to stay?
“Oh, I’m sorry I misunderstood you.” (lots of laughs) “Well, I haven’t planned that yet. I guess, it will be when my time here is over. But some day I’m definately planning to enter church service and become a priest. I only fear, that I won’t be able to escape the presuppositions there.”
Martin, you certainly don’t have to escape any presuppositions in Løgumkloster. We promise to push you out of you’re own!!
Music and the world
Martin might be teaching theology and existence. But beside his academic field, he also has a great passion for music, which he can also use in this job, since he plays both piano and guitar. So if you stop by one morning, and either Anders nor Aksel is playing at morning singing, it will probably be Martin. But for Martin, music and world are connected. Martin plays worldmusic in the band Klezmorkester, where they play jewish and arabic music, music from the Balkans, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Russia.
Martin also plays the piano
“I believe strongly, that we need to overcome the boundaries between the world’s cultures. Not that we shall create one unified culture, but that culture shouldn’t frighten us. Our cultural background defines us, and this is sometimes good and sometimes bad, but the important thing here is, that we keep being interested, open minded and selfcritical. Exchange between cultures will help us in this struggle. And it’s the first step toward a more peaceful world. I try to do this through music. But it is also possible on the højskole, with all it’s international students.”
Welcome!
So, here on the brim of the page - or should I say edge – the redactor of Tr@f would like to bring you a warm welcome to our school. We wish you good luck, and we hope you will enjoy your time as a teacher on the world’s best højskole.
Martin in the teacher’s office welcoming everyone to participate in his classes and in discussions on life and existence. We welcome you to the school
