Lytta Bassett

Lytta Bassett (born 25 April 1950 at Raiatea in French Polynesia) is a Swiss philosopher and Protestant theologian.[1] After serving as pastor in the Reformed Church at Geneva, she became a professor of Practical Theology in the Faculty of Theology of the University of Neuchâtel. She is the author of several works that have reached a wide audience, especially her 2002 book Sainte Colère, released in 2007 in English translation as Holy Anger. In this book, through the biblical figures of Jacob, Job and Jesus, she develops the thesis that it is through anger, and not through its suppression, that one develops an adult, personal faith.

Bassett writes primarily in French. Her work is, however, internationally recognized, and various of her books have been translated into Dutch, English, German, Italian and Portuguese. Christians and Sexuality in the Time of AIDS (2008) was co-authored with English theologian Timothy Radcliffe. She has been awarded a number of prizes for her books, including the 2003 Prix Siloë Pèlerin for the original French edition of Holy Anger, the 2007 Prix de littérature religieuse for Au-delà du pardon ("Beyond forgiveness"), and the Prix du livre de spiritualité Panorama-La Procure for Aimer sans dévorer[2] ("Loving without Devouring"). Her 2007 book Ce lien qui ne meurt jamais ("The bond that never dies") was written in response to the 2001 suicide of her 24-year-old son.

As of 2017, Lytta Basseft edits the University of Neuchâtel's international theology journal, La chair et le souffle. She is also a political activist, associated with a number of movements in favour of sustainable development and against violence.