Sprach- und Denkformen alttestamentlicher Krisen-, Trauma- und Resilienzliteratur

Over the last two decades, the study of trauma has taken a central place in Old Testament scholarship, leading to an intense production of studies and a discussion about the most promising research approaches within trauma studies and beyond to the interpretation of biblical texts. This article explores the viability of the different concepts (crisis, trauma, catastrophe and resilience) with regard to the study of Old Testament literature by reviewing the research literature. More recent developments bring resilience research into play, which makes it necessary to compare the concepts and research directions addressed. In general, it has been emphasized that trauma research functions as a heuristic lens and is not a new method. On a meta-level, it seems crucial to examine the concepts of trauma, language and hermeneutics on which trauma theories are based. The article first outlines the different terms (crisis, trauma, catastrophe and resilience) and their related research directions, by examining both distinctions and compatibilities, in order to clarify the analytical possibilities for Old Testament scholarship. In the second step, a classification of the forms of discourse to verbalize disturbing experiences in Old Testament literature is offered. This is done with reference to the studies of trauma and resilience research. Overall, the article provides a comprehensive overview of current research on trauma within Old Testament studies.