For its part, the theology faculty was split into two camps: conservative supporters of Pope Pius X’s “anti-modernity” campaign and more liberal, reform-minded scholars. This disunity hobbled the department’s ability to play a significant role in the development of university policy, including in the adoption of a motto.

The suggestion to adopt “the truth will set you free” as a motto came from the university’s “academic building commission.” This body (made of representatives from various university departments) was responsible for shaping the appearance and style of KG I, which was still under construction.

This included selecting a phrase to adorn its prominent westward-facing facade. The biblical quotation was chosen and sent to the university senate for approval. Surviving communications from this process indicate that the phrase was well-known and quickly ratified.

It was clear from the beginning that the words from Jesus Christ by way of John the Evangelist were to be scrubbed of religious meaning and biblical context. Instead, “truth” and “freedom” were to be understood as values of rationalism and classical antiquity. One member of the commission wrote that the quotation would go well with the statues of Homer and Aristotle that were to guard the building’s entrance.

The speeches given during the dedication ceremony that marked the building’s completion further illustrate this point. They mainly focused on practical, ethical and intellectual aspects of truth and freedom, ignoring the theological or spiritual.

A Protestant pastor was included among the speakers — but even he seemed reluctant to seriously address a faith-based interpretation of the scriptural quote. He apologetically explained that his sermon would apply “a tinge of religious sentiment” to the new motto. In his essay, Kaiser comments with frustration that giving the words a religious tinge was not necessary since the quote is an objectively religious statement to begin with.

The most obvious measure that the building commission took to secularize John 8:32 was to omit an attribution. Citing the source may have seemed unnecessary; the quote was then certainly more recognizable to the general populace than it is today. More importantly, however, acknowledging the biblical origin could have been understood as showing some level of serious religious allegiance, an impression that the university seemed determined to avoid.

An astonishing and challenging claim

Over 100 years later, it seems that the building commission’s attempt to reinterpret John 8:32 has been a rousing success. The words of Christ are seen through the lens of Kant. Even my “German-on-the-street” interviews illustrated this. Not only did none of the interviewees recognize the quote as the words of Christ, but two people sought to explain its relevance by affirming the importance of truthfulness for academic inquiry. While this innocuous truism is certainly accurate, it is a far cry from the provocative message actually found in Jesus’ words.

The truth that Christ references is not factual correctness or intellectual certainty. Rather, he presents Himself as the ultimate Truth sought and needed by humanity. Only this Truth can set people free from their most onerous bondage.

This bondage is not ignorance, bias or even hubris, as terrible as those things are. Christ reveals Himself as humanity’s liberator from the spiritual darkness and consequences of sin. According to Jesus, this is true freedom. In John 8:36, he promises that “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

As Europe and Germany (and increasingly the United States) continue to secularize, it is not surprising that Christ’s words are sometimes repurposed there, much like the West’s many empty churches. However, something valuable is lost when most people in a society are not religiously literate enough to recognize the challenge or the hope offered in renowned verses of Scripture like John 8:32.

Before Jesus’ teachings can be accepted or rejected, they must be known. Maybe it’s time to add a citation to the facade of KG I after all.