Research approach

The Chair of Practical Theology in Bonn is distinguished by the following five core emphases:

1. We engage in Practical Theology primarily in an exploratory manner: We aim to remain open to the transformations of spirituality and church, shaping Practical Theology as a process in dialogue with real-life practice.
2. A methodologically rigorous approach to practice is especially important to us, which is why we primarily conduct Practical Theology as Empirical Theology. We place particular emphasis on the use of inductive, qualitative methods in order to understand phenomena of faith in their depth and diversity.
3. We aim to practice theology not just as a reflection on practice, but with practice: This is why we frequently use the research style of participatory citizen science in our projects. Want to know what that means? Then check out our educational video on the topic.
4. Our academic work is shaped by a feminist foundation: We are committed to amplifying the voices and experiences of FLINTA* individuals within theology and bringing them to the forefront.
5. We also strive to broaden our perspective beyond the Western, Central European context, increasingly incorporating approaches from international theology into both our research and teaching.