Nature, Crisis, uproar – Thomas Müntzer, peasants' wars & apocalypse today?

500 years after the Peasants’ Wars, Karsten Krampitz asks in his book Dran! Dran! Dran! Thomas Müntzer, the Peasants’ War, and the Unmasking of False Faith who today are those “godless tyrants” that the pastor, theologian, and revolutionary Thomas Müntzer once denounced.

But what role did nature actually play in all this? The Peasants’ Wars were not only religious and social conflicts, but also struggles over land, food, and livelihoods. Who controlled the fields, forests, water, and harvests? And how did dependence on nature, the “great nurturer,” shape people’s thoughts and actions?
It was not only the rebellious peasants who were shaped by apocalyptic visions of an approaching end of the world. Even in the 21st century, we are witnessing a variety of crisis narratives—from climate catastrophe and the threat of war to the societal consequences of artificial intelligence. The question of the relationship between humans, nature, and power is being raised anew today, and with growing urgency.
Together with theologian Mirjam Wulff, we will discuss at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin: What accounts for the enduring fascination with apocalyptic thinking? What significance did nature hold for the lives of peasants? And what would Thomas Müntzer say about the ecological and social crises of our time?

The event builds on the 2026 Brecht Days, which, under the theme “Nature, the Great Nourisher,” explored the relationship between humans, the environment, and social order.

When: Thursday, June 4, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Where: Museum für Naturkunde Berlin
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/natur-krise-aufruhr-thomas-muntzer-bauernkriege-apokalypse-heute-tickets-1989903646373?aff=oddtdtcreator