News and Press Releases

Public discussions about promoting diversity are often oversimplified according to researchers – Sociologist Ines Michalowski: “The effects of diversity measures vary greatly and depend on many factors, including in the area of religion” – New degree programme “Diversity and Social Inequality” at the University of Münster prepares students for diversity issues in organizations – Registration from 1 May

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize 2025 to Catholic theologian Michael Seewald from the University of Münster for his excellent research. In the video, he talks about his research in the field of systematic theology, particularly the history and hermeneutics of dogma, which shapes current theological debates on reform, change of faith and tradition.

Demons – according to researchers, these elusive beings, neither human nor divine, can be found in history, art and literature from antiquity to the present.In the interview “Of demons and devil's grimaces”, art historian Eva Krems, literary scholar Martina Wagner-Egelhaaf and historian Nikolas Funke talk about the approaches they take to the topic of “demons” in their respective research disciplines and where there are interdisciplinary similarities and differences. read more

New book by researchers at the Cluster of Excellence ‘Religion and Politics’ sheds light on the future of religious education in Germany – criticism of the model of non-denominational religious education: ‘Can hardly correspond to the religious plurality that people live’ – Basic Law flexible enough to deal with challenges such as secularisation and pluralisation

Two-part international conference in Rome and Münster on the first ecumenical council – Pontifical Gregorian University and the University of Münster in cooperation – Pope invites researchers to meet and discuss ideas – Professor of Dogmatics Michael Seewald: Bringing together new interdisciplinary research on the history and theology of the Council – What does Nicaea mean for the relationship of Christianity with Judaism and Islam? – ‘What today’s church members actually believe is a different matter’

Church historian Hubert Wolf and his team have presented their initial findings of the researchproject ‘Asking the Pope for Help’ in Rome, among other things, at the German ambassador to the Holy See. During the Shoah, around 10,000 Jews wrote letters to the Catholic Church asking for information about their relatives, for money or help in escaping. The Cluster of Excellence ‘Religion and Politics’ is involved in the large-scale project, where it is carrying out research on Romania and Brazil. read more

US anthropologist Naveeda Khan from Johns Hopkins University spoke at the Cluster of Excellence about the complex interrelationship between religious traditions, climate change and the experience of hunger. In her lecture, Khan shed light on this relationship by examining how the Muslim population along the South Asian river Jamuna in Bangladesh deals with climate crises such as hunger. The researcher, herself a native of Bangladesh, emphasized not only the political dimensions of famine but also the metaphysical and spiritual meaning of the everyday handling of food.

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize to the Catholic Theologian Prof. Michael Seewald from the University of Münster for his outstanding research. In its citation, the DFG underlined Michael Seewald’s achievements in the field of dogma history and hermeneutics.

US anthropologist Naveeda Khan from Johns Hopkins University will talk at the Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics’" – Lecture about the importance of religion for dealing with the effects of climate change, such as hunger – COP29 observer of Bangladesh delegation to come to Münster – Public evening lecture in English next Tuesday
 

An academic ceremony was held in autumn 2024 to mark the 70th birthday of the religious scholar and theologian Perry Schmidt-Leukel. The keynote lecture was delivered in English by theologian and expert on Buddhism Thomas Cattoi, the British theologian Alan Race gave the laudatory speech. 

The district government building in Münster will hold a conference on 21 and 22 November to address the issues of antisemitism and political Islamism. Organised by the research cloud ‘Islam and Politics’ and the Cluster of Excellence ‘Religion and Politics’ in cooperation with the University of Münster’s officer against antisemitism and the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, the event will examine the manifestations and causes of antisemitism and political Islamism, and explore possible solutions and strategies of prevention.

An international conference from 4 to 7 November in Katowice, Poland, organized by the University of Silesia Katowice in cooperation with the Catholic University of Portugal, the Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania, and the Cluster of Excellence, will deal with questions of the unity of Christianity. Researchers will examine Eastern European perspectives on the synodal process, the relationship between Christianity and Europe and the unity of Christianity in the light of plural societies. The event is taking place as part of the celebrations to mark Katowice's designation as a European City of Science 2024.

As part of its annual theme “Body and Religion”, the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” is organizing an exhibition on the body in the world’s religions from antiquity to the present – Opening in the Archaeological Museum and Bible Museum of the University of Münster on 25 October 2024 – Important exhibits on religious practices and ideas from Paris, Vienna and Berlin

In a new online video, the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” at the University of Münster presents its current research on the complex field of tension between religion and politics across different periods. Featured in the film are the Egyptologist Angelika Lohwasser, the political scientist Svenja Ahlhaus, the Islamic theologian Dina El Omari, and the Catholic theologian Hubert Wolf. They also talk about early career opportunities, research transfer and the new campus for theology and religious studies of the University of Münster.

Cluster of Excellence and School of Journalism ifp qualify media professionals to deal with religious issues – Themes such as antisemitism and racism, conflicts over religious practices, and new ideological movements – Places still available: deadline for registration is 1 October 2024

In his lecture at the Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics", US philosopher and Hans Blumenberg Professor for 2024 Kwame Anthony Appiah argued for a pluralistic understanding of religious identities. Appiah, who teaches at New York University, believes that this is a way to resolve religious conflicts - without resorting to relativism.

Cluster of Excellence and School of Journalism qualify media professionals to deal with religious issues – Themes such as antisemitism and racism, conflicts over religious practices, and new ideological movements – Positive feedback leads to continuation of only training programme of its kind in Germany

Funding from the Cluster of Excellence has enabled Italian-born historian Dr. Alessandro Grazi to join the “Asking the Pope for Help” project team led by church historian Prof. Dr. Hubert Wolf. Grazi’s sub-project is concerned with the so-called “Brazilian Visa Project”, which gave hope to some Jews during the Shoah of being able to flee to South America with the support of the Vatican. Brazil had provided the Holy See with 3,000 visas for baptized people of Jewish origin. Grazi will reconstruct the process by which visas were issued, and explore the possibilities and limits of this so-called “Brazilian Visa Project”.

Members of parliament and researchers discuss current research – Parliamentary breakfast and exhibition on the 14 Clusters of Excellence in North Rhine-Westphalia – Science minister Ina Brandes commends excellent research

US philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah talks in Münster about how religions shape identities – Evening lecture on 13 June about identity and social belonging – Appiah: Religious identity is revealed as an activity, not a thing. And it’s the nature of activities to bring change.

Doctoral students from the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” gave an insight into their research at the “Afternoon of the Graduate School” on May 28, 2024.

What is the relationship between Muslims and politics, society and culture? This question is the focus of the new research center "Islam and Politics. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Dynamics of Islam", headed by Mouhanad Khorchide. It opens on April 17. The Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics" is a cooperation partner of the research center.

Literary scholar Martina Wagner-Egelhaaf from the Cluster of Excellence spoke about ideas of demons from antiquity to the present day in a lecture at the Warburg House in Hamburg. Under the title "Dämonenkraft. Heimsuchungen (in) der Moderne", she shed light on the idea of the demonic in the works of Plato and Goethe, but above all in contemporary novels, poems and dramas.

The University of Münster presents its research profile in a new video. Impact Areas and Profile Areas bring together disciplinary strengths and resources. One Profile Area is “Religion and Society”, which also includes the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics”. In the video, church historian Prof. Hubert Wolf and Islamic theologian Prof. Dina El Omari discuss research at the Cluster of Excellence that focuses on factors that have made religion a driver of political and social change from antiquity to the present day.

At the University of Münster’s New Year’s reception, the rectorate awarded the 15,000 euro teaching prize. Among the recipients were the Eastern European historian Prof. Dr. Ricarda Vulpius and the art historian Prof. Dr. Jens Niebaum, both members of the Cluster of Excellence. They were awarded the prize for their seminar “Ukrainian places of remembrance – from an art-historical and historical perspective”. Rector Prof. Dr. Johannes Wessels also emphasized how the event had helped expand the infrastructure for excellent research.

Doctoral students from the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” gave an insight into their research at the “Afternoon of the Graduate School” on 9 January 2024.