A Quest For Hope: Searching For Ways Out Of Postmodern Nihilism Into New Reality (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9789079778034)

Dr. Jan Chr. Vaessen (PhD) is a pastor for the Protestant Church of the Netherlands (PKN) in a small village in the outskirts of Groningen, a university lecturer and an acclaimed speaker. Vaessen was born in Oldebroek, Netherlands on March 31, 1952. After passing the lower schools, he completed his HBS-A diploma in Zwolle (Netherlands) and then went on to work for six months as a bellboy on the ship 'ss. Nieuw Amsterdam' of the Holland America Line (New York - Caribbean), further studying marketing at the HEAO in Arnhem in 1973. Later, in place of Dutch military service, he worked as a volunteer with the SNV in Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa). In 1979, Vaessen started theology studies in Groningen. In 1986 he earned his doctoral degrees and then two years later his church diploma. He then started his doctoral research in Groningen, which in 1997, resulted in a thesis Tussen Schrift en preek (Kampen, 1997) on the relationship between rhetoric and hermeneutics. With help of the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur and the Dutch homiletician Gijs Dingemans he developed an analytical model to analyse sermons on Bible interpretation and rhetorical power. From 1997 to 2008, Vaessen - apart from his work as a pastor - has also worked as a university lecturer in the Religious Studies program in Groningen and the College Ubbo Emmius in Stadskanaal. He also lectured on hermeneutics at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver (USA) and has written about the development of Western thought and the Christian faith in a postmodern society: A Quest for Hope (Groningen, 2008) and Geloof in beweging (Faith on the move, in preparation for publication). Furthermore, he lectures on change management, leadership, education, communication, trust and authenticity in a changing culture and he teaches courses to managers on rhetoric and critical self reflection.