Sintemalen (1)


Now, I would like turn to the book ‘Sintemalen’, written by Elisabeth Altenweger in German language. It is a disturbingly painful book since it describes the intricacies and psychological distortions of a former member of a very strict fundamentalist religious group called (at that times) Evangelischer Brüderverein (something like: Evangelical Brotherhood Congregation), although women played a role as missionaries and for church social work. 


The book falls under the category fiction, but it seems to be a very accurate description of what actually happened within that community and how much damage was inflicted on the narrator Susanna. She is a book editor and lives together with her partner Till in a small town in Switzerland. Till works for a book publishing company and is non-religious.  They have two children, the very (almost excessively) religious Ilona (about 17)) and the 13 year old life-enjoying, non-religious Leoni.

Susanne smokes a lot.

She was born into a family whose father was Evangelist and belonged to the inner leadership of that religiously strict (if not to say fundamentally fanatic) community. Religious education (if you will call it so) was very rigid and demanding. There was always the pressure of repentance, conversion to Jesus and being born again as a true disciple destined for enteral elation in God.

As most of the church leaders, Susanna’s father was very rigorously enforcing their belief system and proper social conductance, as taught by Fritz Berger (Father Berger), the founder of the community (1914). He published a book with the title: Von der überschwänglichen Gnade Gottes in meinem Leben (means:  About the exuberant grace of God in my life).

Her father liked to use the old German word ‘sintemalen’ in the context of biblical language, but also in private life. The attributed meaning was ‘because’, ‘for even I was bestowed with’, ‘as a matter of fact’. Some other meanings/interpretations of this word as per the official King James Bible version:

Luke 1, 1: Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us.

2 Corinthians 12, 10-11: As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

1 Peter 2, 21: For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.

When Susanna thinks about her father, the word ‘sintemalen’ seems to be one of his attributes.




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