Interdisciplinary Conference – What Do We Mean by "Family"? Religious Concepts of Family Under Social and Political Pressure

December 9–11, 2026 · Münster

Academic Directors: Prof. Dr. Arnulf von Scheliha (University of Münster) · Prof. Dr. Caroline Teschmer (University of Bonn)

You can find the complete program here

Venues:
December 9 and 10 – Professional School of the University of Münster: Königsstr. 47
December 11 – Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics": Johannisstr. 4

Please register by November 30, 2026, by contacting Martina Forstmann at the conference office

In her dissertation ‘Theology in European Spaces,’ Catharina Jabss explores Europe as an emerging theological space in which theology is stimulated and challenged by experiences of otherness and encounters. The starting point is a multidimensional understanding of theology that incorporates individually responsible reflection on interpretations of religious experiences and views Europe as a space of theological productivity. Through a combination of systematic theological conceptual work and empirical research on three case studies, various structural features of theologically productive European spaces and different forms of theological reflection in Europe emerge.

The study thus offers a systematic theological contribution to the study of Christianity in Europe as well as perspectives for and links to practical theological questions.

The study will be published in March 2026 by Evangelische Verlagsanstalt. 
Here you can find the publisher's website...

Conference ‘Human-animal peace - a (realistic) utopia?’

Conference ‘Human-animal peace - a (realistic) utopia?’

From 12 to 14 March 2025, a conference on utopian thinking and human-animal relations will take place at the Institute of Ethics and Related Social Sciences.

Based on the biblical motif of human-animal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9), the event will explore the question of what utopias can do for animal ethics and human-animal studies. This will be examined from historical, sociological, artistic, philosophical and not least theological perspectives.

It is possible to take part in the conference - you are cordially invited to do so!

Further information and the programme can be found here...

Please send your registration to:
Dr Cornelia Mügge (c.muegge@uni-muenster.de)

• Recent publications

  (only available in German)

• Winter-Reunion internationale Working Group on "Religion and Utopia"

  

  On January 30, 2025, the annual Winter Reunion of the International Working Group on Religion and Utopia will take place – this year online.

  The planned program and further information can be found here

  For additional details and registration, please contact:

  Cornelia Mügge: c.muegge@uni-muenster.de
  Christian Schlenker: christian.schlenker@unige.ch

• Book Launch: Religionsunterricht 4.0

  

  The Centre for Religion and Modernity cordially invites you to the book launch of the new publication by Prof. Dr Arnulf von Scheliha and Prof. Dr Hinnerk Wißmann ‘Religionsunterricht 4.0’ on 27 January 2025, 6 p.m. c.t., Johannisstr. 4.

  Denominational religious education has increasingly become the subject of political and social controversy in Germany. The authors will discuss with Ulrich Willems the possibilities for the further development of religious education in schools in accordance with Article 7 (3) of the Basic Law. In their recently published book ‘Religionsunterricht 4.0’ (Religious Education 4.0), the authors have analysed the reasons for teaching religion in schools from the internal perspective of the religious communities. However, growing religious plurality and demographic change urgently call for a review of the current organisation - especially if the specific aims of religious education are to be maintained.

  Following the event, the Centre for Religion and Modernity invites you to a drinks reception in the foyer.

  Further information can be found here...

• This year's Schleiermacher Symposium 2024 under the title ‘Light and Backlight: Reflections on the Finite. Schleiermacher - Kant - Friedrich’ will take place from 7 to 9 November in Wittenberg.

  All details about the event are available on the website of the Schleiermacher Society.

  You can find the programme here...

• Panel discussion: The church membership survey under discussion

  The Institute for Ethics and Associated Social Sciences (IfES) and the CRM cordially invite you to a panel discussion on the occasion of the 6th Church Membership Survey on the 3rd of July 2024, 6 pm c.t.

  The panel discussion will take place on campus at the Faculty of Protestant Theology, Universitätsstr. 13-17, room 102.

  Participation via Zoom is also possible. Please register for online participation by 2 July with Ms Martina Forstmann (forstma@uni-muenster.de)

   

  More Information can be found here...

• (only available in German)

• (only available in German)

• (only available in German)

• 

  Book presentation: chosen or elected?

  Presentation of research results from the project “Protestant Theologists as Parliamentarians”.

  

  Book presentation: chosen or elected?

  Presentation of research results from the project “Protestant Theologists as Parliamentarians”

• Symposium about DFG long-term project

  In November 2022 there has been a symposium about the DFG long-term project “theological ethics as cultural theory”.

• Interdisciplinary lecture series: Education towards freedom: university education during Corona times

  Organized by institute for law and institute of pedagogy. This lecture series invites everyone to an open discussion.

  How did the Corona situation affected education and community at the university? How did our experiences with crisis, restrictions and loneliness affected transmission of knowledge, but also our perspectives towards this?

  Further information can be found here.

  Wednesdays 18 ct.

  Place: J3 (Juridicum, Universitätsstraße 14-16)

• Right-wing Christians exploit theology for their own ideas of the social order

  Newspaper article from 25th January 2022 about a book published by Johann Hinrich Claussen, Martin Fritz, Andreas Kubik, Ruchus Leonhardt and Arnulf von Scheliha

• Scientists discover lectures of Friedrich Schleiermacher

  Further information please click here