Conspiracy theory and "alternative theology" interpretations as well as negations of the Corona pandemic have been unusually effective in Germany since 2020; in the "liberal milieu," which is convinced of the evidence of medical and scientific expertise, they have caused considerable irritation. read more...
On May 3, 2023, at 3 p.m., the launch event of the CRM/DFG project “Global Bible: British and German Biblical Societies Translating Colonialism, 1800-1914” will take place. Read more …
On 19 April 2023 at 6 pm, Dr Frederike Schotters (Tübingen) will speak about »The Trail of Money – A New Perspective on Catholicism and Mission?«. The transnationalisation of Catholicism in the 19th century was largely driven by Catholic laity and a broad fundraising movement. Read more…
On 1 April, the Global Bible (GloBil) project was launched at CRM. The project, led by CRM member PD Dr Felicity Jensz, aims to critically analyse the British and German contribution in the creation of a global Bible, i.e. the attempt to translate the Christian scriptures into all the languages of the world. By the beginning of the twentieth century, parts of the Bible had been translated into some 1,000 languages, including many languages that had not previously known a written language. Much of what we know today about the languages of the Global Majority is based on the arduous work of indigenous translators and missionary linguists from the colonial period, often over decades. However, this important knowledge has remained largely hidden in religious archives until today. GloBil will open up the archives of German and British Bible societies to uncover the history of the global Bible movement and its discovery of global languages. To do this, GloBil will examine Bible translations in three geographically diverse regions; the Arctic, Oceania and Australia, and West Africa.
by Karl Gabriel (Häutungen einer umstrittenen Institution. Zur Soziologie der katholischen Kirche)
The Catholic Church is in the midst of the most serious crisis in its recent history. There are even voices that expect an imminent demise of Catholicism. But does this stand up to sociological analysis? In the 26th volume of the series "Religion and Modernity," Karl Gabriel explores the historically determined self-blockades that have led to the decline of the Catholic Church. read more …
Project presentation by Dr. Michael Brunner: Monday, December 5, 2022 · 16:15 - 17:45 p.m. · Fürstenberghaus, Domplatz 20-22, room F 041
Dr. Michael Brunner, Research Associate in the Office of the Center for Religion and Modernity, will present his current research to CRM members and staff.
November 9, 2022 | Room JO 101 | Johannisstraße 1, 48143 Münster
Presentation of the research results from the project "Protestant Theologians as Parliamentarians".
A book presentation of the Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics" with Dr. Johann Hinrich Claussen, Cultural Commissioner of the Council of the EKD, and other guests.
Registration for digital participation until 8 November 2022 with Martina Forstmann (forstma@uni-muenster.de).
The John Templeton Foundation has approved funding for the international research project "Explaining religious change across generations: an international study of religious transmission in families" by the Münster sociologists of religion Christel Gärtner and Olaf Müller. Following the project "The Transmission of Religion Across Generations", the teams from five countries will concentrate primarily on the cross-country comparative analyses until June 2024 and combine the qualitative and quantitative analyses ("mixed methods").
In June, more than 30 researchers from nine countries met in the premises of the Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics" at the University of Münster. Together they discussed interim results of the research project on the transmission of religion in families over the course of generations, which was carried out in Germany, Finland, Italy, Canada and Hungary. more...
How did the Lutheran clergy in the royal capital of Berlin in the 18th century – an era of secularization and the emergence of bourgeois culture – move between church congregation and political authorities? Based on a wide array of sources, Florian Grumbach explores in “Predigt, Publikum and Seelenheil” (‘Sermon, audience, and salvation’), the 23rd book in the series “Religion und Moderne”, the pastoral practice and daily work of the clergy such as their sermons or publishing activities. more...
On May 2, 2022, the Center for Religion and Modernity (CRM) held a digital lecture and discussion event on the subject of "Sexualized violence in churches". Prof. Dr. Thomas Großbölting and Prof. Dr. Klaus Große Kracht, who investigated the cases of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Münster, informed the members of the CRM in compact form about their approach and the structural results of their study. Afterwards, methodical questions in particular were lively discussed. more...
The researchers of the project "The transmission of religion across generations: a comparative international study of continuities and discontinuities in family socialization", directed by Prof. Christel Gärtner and funded by the John Templeton Foundation, met from March 31 to April 4 in Fuengirola near Málaga to exchange the results of the analyses of their data. more...
from Uta Elisabeth Hohmann (Hg.), Arnulf von Scheliha (Hg.)
How was and how is the theological profession represented in German Parliaments? In which parties are Protestant Theologians primarily involved and during which specific epoch? Which political task fields did they primarily take in parliament? Can a specific typology of career paths be identified? more...
Migration has led to a growing religious and cultural diversity of German society. In public debates this diversity is often discussed as a societal challenge or even a cause of conflict. As David Rüschenschmidt in the Center for Religion and Modernity’s latest publication shows, the history of the Christian-Muslim dialogue does not conform to this narrative. more...
Around the turn of the century, scholars of religion declared a ‘return of religion’ in modern society. Nowadays, the secularization theory – considered obsolete by many during the last few decades – has found a renewed interest. In view of recent scandals in churches and religious communities, a societal decline of religion appears again conceivable to observers. In the newest German publication of the Center for Religion and Modernity, “Die vielen Gesichter der Religion” (Engl. ‘The many faces of religion’), Karl Gabriel shows the global multitude of religious phenomena beyond the secularization theory: From religion in politics to public debates on identity and recognition, to individual religiosity as an expression of authentic self-assurance. more...
‘Die Dynamik des Religiösen in Prozessen des Politischen’ [Engl. ‘The dynamics of religion in processes of politics’]
will take place in Montabaur. The conference is organized jointly by the Cluster of Excellence ‘Religion and Politics’, University of Münster, and the DFG Research Unit ‘Being Catholic in the German Federal Republic. Semantics, Practices, and Emotions in Western Germany’s Society 1965–1989/90’. The conference features numerous members of the Center for Religion and Modernity who will present introductory statements and participate in panel discussions. more...
Before: The Center for Religion and Modernity invites everyone interested to the lecture of Prof. Dr. Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati on „Religion in der (post)pandemischen Zeit. Eine Bestandsaufnahme“ [„Religion in the (post)pandemic age. An evaluation“], Monday, December 6, 2021, at 6.15 pm. Prof. Dr. Pezzoli-Olgiati is Professor for the Study and the History of Religion at the University of Munich (LMU). In her lecture she will examine what constitutes „religion“ and „religious communities“ in a (post)pandemic age, how researchers should approach the issue, and what future societal transformations the pandemic might bring.
In early November, the International Scientific Advisory Board of the project “From the margins to the centre? Right-wing populist interpretations of (radial) Islam as a societal challenge in Europe and beyond” (RaMi) met for the first time in a virtual meeting. more...
