Heinz Von Stem on the Myth of Myths: Confessions of a Master Mythmaker

Abstract

A year has gone by since the death of the Reverend Heinz von Stem. In keeping with his final wishes and through the generosity of the editors of this volume, I am now able to present excerpts of the confession he shared with me in a last interview. Before his death at a very old age, Vienna-born von Stem was nothing more or less than the von Braun of the corporate mind, a master mythmaker in his own right. Since it seemed most fitting that his confessions appear in this volume, I approached the editors and asked that they include von Stem’s confession in their publication. As von Stem was largely unknown to the public — a status of which he was genuinely proud — it seems only fair that he be given the chance to unburden himself to the world through this medium. Following is the December 2005 conversation he had with me at The Olde-Time Religion Home where he was then living. The Reverend von Stem had summoned me to his room, and while the very old man got increasingly intoxicated and downright noisy on ice-cold schnapps, the following exchange took place.