Grieve-Carlson writes book about theologian Kelpius | Our Campus

July 16, 2024

Grieve-Carlson writes book about theologian Kelpius

NEW WILMINGTON, Pennsylvania – Dr. Timothy Grieve-Carlson, assistant professor of interfaith studies at Westminster College, has authored a new book titled “American Aurora: Environment and Apocalypse in the Life of Johannes Kelpius.”

Grieve-Carlson’s book, published in May, examines the impact of climate change on radical religious groups of the early modern period during the height of the Little Ice Age – a period of widespread cooling in the North Atlantic region – in the 17th century. Focusing on the life of Johannes Kelpius, a Pietist and theologian who settled in Philadelphia in 1694, Grieve-Carlson examines the hermetic and alchemical dimensions of Kelpius’ Christianity before turning to his legacy in American religion and literature.

“Kelpius was widely recognized as an important figure, but scholars seemed to know very little about him or why he was so influential. When I was looking for topics for my research, I kept coming back to Kelpius because of his particular concern with issues of contemporary relevance – environmental disaster, institutional decline and the looming sense that we are living in a transitional period in history,” Grieve-Carlson said.

As radical Protestants during Kelpius’s lifetime struggled to make sense of their changing climate and a seemingly eschatological cosmos, esoteric texts became crucial sources of meaning. Grieve-Carlson presents original translations of Kelpius’ university papers, never before published in English, along with analyses and translations of other important sources from the period in German and Latin.

Grieve-Carlson began writing American Aurora in 2020, but the book represents the culmination of his doctoral work completed at Rice University, where he earned his Ph.D. in religious studies, and his bachelor’s degree from Drew University.

Grieve-Carlson joined the Westminster faculty in 2022.