{{short description|Canadian Mennonite theologian}} {{Infobox academic | name = A. James Reimer | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Allen James Reimer | birth_date = {{birth date|1942|08|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = Morris, Manitoba, Canada | death_date = {{death date and age|2010|08|28|1942|08|10|df=yes}} | death_place = Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | spouse = {{marriage|Margaret Loewen Reimer|1968}} | alma_mater = {{ubl | Canadian Mennonite Bible College | University of Manitoba | University of Toronto}} | thesis_title = Theological Method and Political Ethics<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Reimer |first=A. James |year=1983 |title=Theological Method and Political Ethics: The Paul Tillich–Emanuel Hirsch Debate of 1934–35 |degree=PhD |location=Toronto |publisher=University of St. Michael's College |publication-date=1984 |isbn=978-0-315-11790-7}}</ref> | thesis_year = 1983 | school_tradition = Anabaptism | doctoral_advisor = Gregory Baum | academic_advisors = | influences = George Grant<ref>{{cite journal |last=Heidebrecht |first=Paul C. |year=2006 |title=A Prescription for the Ills of Modernity? Understanding A. James Reimer's Approach to Theology |url=https://www.goshen.edu/mqr/2006/12/april-2006-heidebrecht/ |journal=The Mennonite Quarterly Review |volume=80 |issue=2 |access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref> | era = | discipline = {{hlist | Theology | religious studies}} | sub_discipline = {{hlist | Political theology | systematic theology}} | workplaces = Conrad Grebel University College | doctoral_students = <!--only those with WP articles--> | notable_students = <!--only those with WP articles--> | main_interests = {{hlist | 20th-century German Protestant thought | Mennonite theology}} | notable_works = | notable_ideas = | influenced = <!--must be referenced from a third-party source--> | signature = | signature_alt = }} '''Allen James Reimer'''<ref name=one>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lifenews.ca/waterloorecord/profile/137174--reimer-a-james|title = Torstar Obituaries and Guestbooks}}</ref> (August 10, 1942 – August 28, 2010) was a Canadian Mennonite theologian who held a dual academic appointment as Professor of Religious Studies and Christian Theology at Conrad Grebel University College, a member college of the University of Waterloo, and at the Toronto School of Theology, a consortium of divinity schools federated with the University of Toronto. At the University of Waterloo's fall 2008 convocation, he was named Distinguished Professor Emeritus, an honor seldom bestowed on retired faculty.
==Early life and education== Born on 10 August 1942 in Morris, Manitoba,<ref name=one/> Reimer was raised in Altona. As a teen, he was baptized in the local Mennonite church.<ref>A. James Reimer, ''The dogmatic imagination. The dynamics of Christian belief'' (Waterloo, ON; Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 2003), 1.</ref> He held undergraduate degrees from Canadian Mennonite Bible College (1963; now Canadian Mennonite University) and the University of Manitoba (1971); he also spent a year studying at Union Theological Seminary in New York City (1971–72) before moving to the University of Toronto, where he earned an MA in history (1974) and a PhD in theology (1983), the latter degree conferred by the University of St. Michael's College, a college of the University of Toronto. His doctoral dissertation, directed by Gregory Baum, was a comparative and contrasting study of the political ramifications of theology in the respective thinking of Emanuel Hirsch and Paul Tillich.
==Theology== Reimer's own theology was not typically Mennonite (vis-à-vis John Howard Yoder),<ref>Cf. Reimer, "[http://grebel.uwaterloo.ca/academic/cgreview/documents/CGR-Spring-1998.pdf Mennonites, Christ and Culture: The Yoder Legacy] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104130714/http://grebel.uwaterloo.ca/academic/cgreview/documents/CGR-Spring-1998.pdf |date=November 4, 2010 }}," ''The Conrad Grebel Review'' 16, no. 2 (Spring 1998): 5-14; also Reimer, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=6RERmGt20f4C&pg=PA150 Anabaptist, Mennonites and Paul Tillich: Can the Prophetic Spirit be Institutionalized?], in ''Brücken der Versöhnung: Festschrift für Gert Hummel zum 70. Geburtstag 2003'', ed. P. Haigis, D. Lax(Münster: LIT Verlag, 2003), 150-165.</ref> in that his point of departure was not the Sermon on the Mount but the classical imagination of trinitarian orthodoxy.<ref>Reimer, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=MLcgJjYiA8YC&pg=PA129 Trinitarian Orthodoxy, Constantinianism, and Theology from a Radical Protestant Perspective]," in ''Faith to Creed: Ecumenical Perspectives on the Affirmation of the Apostolic Faith in the Fourth Century'', ed. Mark Heim (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991), 129-161; see also Reimer, [http://grebel.uwaterloo.ca/academic/cgreview/documents/CGR-Fall-2002.pdf "Hauerwas: Why I am a Reluctant Convert to his Theology] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104130606/http://grebel.uwaterloo.ca/academic/cgreview/documents/CGR-Fall-2002.pdf |date=November 4, 2010 }}", ''Conrad Grebel Review'' 20, no. 3 (Fall 2002):5-16.</ref> Though he was deeply concerned with Christian social ethics, he insisted that ethics must have a ground external to itself. The triune God, for Reimer, constituted such ground.<ref>Cf. Reimer, [http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/G657ME.html "God (Trinity), Doctrine of."], in ''Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online'' (retrieved 13 September 2010); [https://books.google.com/books?id=bsx_f_AFkh8C&dq=jim%20Reimer%20theology&pg=PA403 A Postliberal Metaphysics for Christian Ethics: The 1925 ''Dogmatics'' of Karl Barth and Paul Tillich], in ''Études sur la Dogmatique, 1925, de Paul Tillich'', ed. A. Gounelle, J. Richard, R. P. Scharlemann (Presses Université Laval, 1999), 403-427. Also Reimer, "God is love but not a pacifist," in ''Mennonites and classical theology. Dogmatic foundations for Christian ethics'' (Kitchener, ON: Pandora Press [1999] 2001), 486-492.</ref> Whereas Mennonites have been historically critical of the dominant culture, Reimer's later work sought to develop a positive understanding of culture, law, public life and civil institutions.<ref>For example, see Reimer, [http://www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca/cgreviewdocs/cgr-spring-2008.pdf#search=%22reimer%20conscience%22 Pacifism, Policing, and Individual Conscience] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104130447/http://grebel.uwaterloo.ca/cgreviewdocs/cgr-spring-2008.pdf#search=%22reimer%20conscience%22 |date=2010-11-04 }}, ''Conrad Grebel Review'' 26, no. 2 (Fall 2008): 129-141; "[https://books.google.com/books?id=wo3VzZOmzHwC&pg=PA71 Constantine: From Religious Pluralism to Christian Hegemony]," in ''The Future of Religion: Toward a Reconciled Society'', ed. Michael R. Ott (Leiden: Brill, 2007), 71-90.</ref>
While writing his doctoral dissertation, Reimer became deeply troubled and conflicted about the theology of Emanuel Hirsch, a German Christian nationalist and Nazi sympathizer. Fearing that he was being swayed by Hirsch's arguments, Reimer sought to offset Hirsch's influence by aligning himself more concretely with left of centre politics. He joined the New Democratic Party and was an active party member for several years before finally resigning his membership over certain of the party's socio-ethical positions, particularly a woman's right to choose. Today, Reimer's overall political vision remains left of centre. Though he is a pacifist, he has argued that God's activity in the world cannot be reduced to any one ethical ideology; otherwise transcendence becomes domesticated.
Reimer was quite productive as an academic. He published numerous articles in various journals; select articles have been compiled to form the content of two of his books: ''Mennonites and Classical Theology'',<ref>A. James Reimer, ''Mennonites and classical theology. Dogmatic foundations for Christian ethics'' (Kitchener, ON: Pandora Press, 2001).</ref> and ''Paul Tillich: Theologian of Nature, Culture and Politics.''<ref>A. James Reimer, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=V6-9-zdPRBcC&pg=PP1 Paul Tillich: theologian of nature, culture and politics]'' (Münster: Lit Verlag, 2004). See also Reimer, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=wvVDsCjOJZYC&q=reimer&pg=PA122 Tillich's Christology in Light of Chalcedon]," in ''The Theological Paradox / Das theologische Paradox'', ed. G. Hummel (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1995), 122-140; "[https://books.google.com/books?id=sPP-f_DIJZEC&dq=jim%20Reimer%20theology&pg=PA194 Metaphysics and Communication: The Logos-Ontology of Paul Tillich and Habermas' Theory of Communicative Practice]," ''Being versus Word in Paul Tillich's theology?'', ed. Gert Hummel (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1999), 194-205; Reimer, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=rDHfSGdnZ3wC&dq=jim%20Reimer%20theology&pg=PA314 Mysticism or Spirituality? The Concept of Prayer in Tillich's Theology]," in ''Mystisches Erbe in Tillichs philosophischer Theologie'', ed. G. Hummel and D. Lax (Münster: LIT Verlag, 2000), 314-329; Reimer, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=YIQHLABsryUC&dq=jim%20Reimer%20theology&pg=PA251 Paul Tillichs Theology of Culture: An Ambivalence toward Nineteenth Century 'Culture Protestantism]", in ''Religion et culture: actes du colloque international du centenaire Paul Tillich'', ed. M. Despland, J.-C. Petit, J. Richard (Laval, Quebec: Presses Université Laval, 1987), 251-269.</ref> His very first book was a revision of his doctoral dissertation, titled ''The Emanuel Hirsch and Paul Tillich Debate: A Study in the Political Ramifications of Theology.''<ref>A. James Reimer, ''The Emanuel Hirsch and Paul Tillich debate. A study in the political ramifications of theology'' (Lewiston, NY; Queenston, ON: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1989). (See also [https://books.google.com/books?id=BStYFd6F-9AC&dq=Reimer%2C%20A.%20James%20christians%20and%20war&pg=PP1 German translation]).</ref> He also coedited a compendium of essays on the Frankfurt School of critical theory.<ref>A. James Reimer, ed., ''The Influence of the Frankfurt School on Contemporary Theology: Critical Theory and the Future of Religion - Dubrovnik Papers in Honour of Rudolf J. Siebert'' (Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 1992).</ref> His areas of expertise included Anabaptist-Mennonite theology, Christian ethics of war and peace,<ref>A. James Reimer, ''Christians and war. A history of practices and teachings'' (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010); cf. also Reimer, "[http://www.directionjournal.org/article/?1544 An Anabaptist-Mennonite Political Theology: Theological Presuppositions]," ''Direction'' 38, no. 1 (Spring 2009): 29-44.</ref> and nineteenth- and twentieth-century German Protestant thought (including the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Paul Tillich, and the German church struggle during the Nazi regime).<ref>For example cf. Reimer, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=euiWW4bw5gkC&pg=PA109 Prayer as Unio Mystica: Tillich's Concept of Prayer in Contrast to Barth's Christological Realism and Hirsch's Pietistic Personalism]," in W. Schüssler and A. J. Reimer, eds., ''Das Gebet als Grundakt des Glaubens'', vol. 2 ''Tillich-Studien'' (Münster: LIT, 2004), 109-136; Reimer, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=v-d_2xu6eaEC&q=Reimer&pg=PA101 Tillich, Hirsch and Barth: Three Different Paradigms of Theology and its Relation to the Sciences]," ''Natural Theology Versus Theology of Nature? Tillich's Thinking as Impetus for a Discourse among Theology, Philosophy, and Natural Sciences'', ed. G. Hummel (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1994), 101-124; Reimer, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=py_aMxN_-W0C&dq=jim%20Reimer%20theology&pg=PA61 Theologians in Nazi Germany]," in ''The Twentieth Century: A Theological Overview'', ed. G. Baum (New York: Continuum, 1999), 61-75; Reimer, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=CHSuGf0IevIC&dq=jim%20Reimer%20theology&pg=PA67 Paul Tillich and Karl Schmitt: The Political Nature of Theology]," in ''Religion und Politik'', ed. C. Danz, W. Schüßler, E. Sturm (Münster: LIT Verlag, 2009), 67-80.</ref> Over the years Reimer directed several theses and dissertations on these and other related topics.
A. James Reimer was an active churchman who accepted many preaching and teaching assignments in the Mennonite Church for over forty-five years, and was actively engaged in ecumenical and inter-faith encounters.<ref>For Reimer's contribution to the Shia Muslim-Mennonite Christian dialogue, see "[http://www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca/cgreviewdocs/cgr-fall-2003.pdf#search=%22ideologically%22 Shi’i Muslims and Mennonite Christians in Dialogue: Two Religious Minority Groups Face the Challenges of Modernity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706212458/http://www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca/cgreviewdocs/cgr-fall-2003.pdf#search=%22ideologically%22 |date=2011-07-06 }}" and "[http://www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca/cgreviewdocs/cgr-fall-2003.pdf#search=%22ideologically%22 Public Orthodoxy and Civic Forbearance: The Challenges of Modern Law for Religious Minority Groups] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706212458/http://www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca/cgreviewdocs/cgr-fall-2003.pdf#search=%22ideologically%22 |date=2011-07-06 }}," ''Conrad Grebel Review'' 21, no. 3 (Fall 2003): 3-13, 96-111; also "[http://www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca/cgreviewdocs/cgr-winter-2006.pdf#search=%22reimer%20conscience%22 Revelation, Law, and Individual Conscience] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706212448/http://www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca/cgreviewdocs/cgr-winter-2006.pdf#search=%22reimer%20conscience%22 |date=2011-07-06 }}," ''Conrad Grebel Review'' 24, no. 1 (Winter 2006): 12-31.</ref> In 2007, a ''Festschrift'' was published in honor of Reimer.<ref>Jeremy M. Bergen, Paul G. Doerksen, and Karl Koop, eds., ''Creed and Conscience: Essays in Honor of A. James Reimer'' (Kitchener, ON: Pandora Press, 2007). Other secondary literature includes Paul C. Heidebrecht, "[http://www.goshen.edu/mqr/pastissues/apr06heidebrecht.html A Prescription for the Ills of Modernity? Understanding A. J. Reimer's Approach to Theology]," ''Mennonite Quarterly Review'' LXXX, no. 2 (2006); Thomas Finger, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=CUybVhQc3PQC&dq=jim%20Reimer%20theology&pg=PA70 A. James Reimer]," ''A Contemporary Anabaptist Theology: Biblical, Historical, Constructive'' (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2004), 70-72.</ref>
On 28 August 2010, Reimer died at his Waterloo home.<ref name=one/> He is survived by his wife Margaret Loewen Reimer, an academic with a PhD in English, and a former editor of the ''Canadian Mennonite'', and their three children.
==See also== * List of University of Waterloo people * Mennonite Church Canada
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reimer, A. James}} Category:1942 births Category:2010 deaths Category:20th-century Canadian Protestant theologians Category:Canadian Anabaptist theologians Category:Canadian Christian pacifists Category:Canadian Mennonites Category:Canadian religion academics Category:Mennonite theologians Category:New Democratic Party people Category:People from Morris, Manitoba Category:People from Altona, Manitoba Category:Writers from Waterloo, Ontario Category:Political theologians Category:University of St. Michael's College alumni Category:Systematic theologians Category:University of Manitoba alumni Category:Writers from Manitoba