Composing the Kingdom: An American Faith in German Words

About this event

Join us as we find out what Dirk Johannsen and Anja Kirsch have discovered in the Harmonist archives at Old Economy Village. They will present their findings about the history of the transition from the Indiana settlement to Economy. The Harmony Society’s travels, new readings, printing operations, and the demographic shift led to a new self-understanding, documented in individual Harmonist’s songs in prose and George Rapp’s Thoughts on the Destiny of Man and his sermons.

Dirk Johannsen is Professor of Cultural History at the University of Oslo, Norway. His research explores how stories shape the way people experience their world. Anja Kirsch is Professor of Religious Studies at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. Her research focuses on historical relationships between religion and the secular. Originally from Germany and now living in Norway, both explore the narrative cultures of nineteenth century emigrants.

This event is free to the public

From Friends of Old Economy Village