Congratulations, Graduates!
Congratulations to all graduates of the academic year 2020/21! As last year, the University of Bonn would like to invite you to the "Digital Unifest" to celebrate graduation with you, your family and friends.
In addition, this year a “Graduation Walk” around the Hofgartenwiese is planned for 28 August – with the distribution of gowns and berets, a campus store, refreshment stations, photo booth and, as a highlight at the end, the presentation of the certificate and the hat toss. Register now!
Conference Invitation
On 9 and 10 July, a symposium in the series "What Does Theology Do, Actually?" will take place at the University of Bonn as part of Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) 4, Individuals, Institutions, and Societies.
The English-language event, this time focusing on exegeting exegesis, is organized by Dr. Matthew Ryan Robinson, Dr. Drew Davis and Dr. Daniel Lanzinger. For the full program and more information, visit the conference website. Participation via ZOOM is free – register now!
Prize Question 2020-2022
The Institute of Hermeneutics of the Protestant Faculty and the Transdisciplinary Research Area “Individuals, Institutions and Societies” of the University of Bonn, in cooperation with the "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Religionsphilosophie", present the Prize Question 2020-2022: What is truth under the conditions of digitalization? An epistemological question in conversation with hermeneutics, philosophy of religion and sociocultural phenomenology
Prize money:
First: € 1000,-; second and third: € 500,- each
Eligibility: Young researchers of all disciplines
Jury from theology, philosophy, political
sciences: Kurt Appel, Martín Grassi, Volker Kronenberg, Cornelia Richter, Jochen Sautermeister
The question of truth is a genuine epistemological question. Investigation of this question requires transcendental philosophy and logic. Nonetheless, since at least the “Dialectic of the Enlightenment” (Horkheimer and Adorno), it has been shown that truth and reason are neither independent of their subjective enactment in and by individuals nor as of their sociocultural embedding. Furthermore, because of the many theoretical “turns” (at least linguistic, iconic and symbolic) in 20th century, the truth question is understood to be not only relative in the sense of being part of complex processes of production, but also in the sense of being dependent on respective epistemological and phenomenological premises: Matters can be logically true, historically correct, empirically exact, intuitively obvious, emotionally absolute and/or fundamentally meaningful – without sharing the same truth conception. All of this is further complicated by digitalization: Until the 20th century linear conception of thinking dominated. But digitalization has produced and produces modes of thinking in polyvalent levels of images with different dimensions of profoundness. Extreme differences, even opposites, can apply at the same time and in equal value. The crucial question for the essay competition will be: How is it possible to hold on to an ontological character of truth at least as a regulative idea while forcefully considering the consequences of a diversity of methodological perspectives and of the situatedness of truth? How would you respond?
Entry deadline: 31.12.2021 (covering letter and paper). The paper (max. 40.000 characters including spaces) will be evaluated anonymously by an interdisciplinary jury by 31.03.2022. The prize will be awarded and the best three papers will be presented at an international conference on 11.-12 November 2022. Submissions can be sent directly to Prof. Dr. Cornelia Richter: [Email protection active, please enable JavaScript.]. The flyer with all details can be downloaded here.
MESt Student Awarded
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Tahina Rahandrifenosoa, student of the English-language Master's program in (Extended) Ecumenical Studies, has been awarded the "Hochschulpreis 2020" of the "Evangelischer Bund Rheinland" for his Master's thesis "The Problem of Paedobaptism in the Book of Acts".
With the "Hochschulpreis", the "Evangelischer Bund Rheinland" annually honours a thesis that has an ecumenical or confessional focus. The prize is endowed with 300 EUR and has been offered since 2012.
The jury praised the interesting combination of exegetical skill and ecumenical knowledge, and enjoyed to learn about the important question of inter-Christian dialogue and its roots in the New Testament.
The work was supervised by Dr Phillip A. Davis and Prof. Dr. Günter
Röhser. The award ceremony will take part in the second half of 2021.
Congratulations to the winner!
Patristics and Ecumenism from a Protestant Perspective
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Listen to Prof. Dr. Wolfram Kinzig and Dr. Maria Munkholt from the Church History Department talking about the Ecumenical World, the Christian Traditions and Patristic Studies. The conversation is now available on YouTube.
Consultation on Post-Migration Churches of African Backgrounds in Germany
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On 13 May 2021, the Protestant Theological Faculty will host a one-day consultation organized and led by Elorm Nick Ahialey-Mawusi. The symposium on post-migration churches of African backgrounds in Germany will start at 8:45am via ZOOM.
Block Seminar “The Neighbor: Politics, Practice, Person”
This summer semester, an international English-language seminar will take place under the motto “How we see others produces the society we see”.
The seminar will examine resources and liabilities in the Christian and Muslim traditions concerning exclusion and inclusion of strangers, enemies, and forgotten members of society from critical perspectives in contextual theology, postcolonial theology, and political theology.
Co-taught by scholars from three different continents and academic contexts, the seminar will interrelate exegetical, philosophical-hermeneutical, social-scientific, and ethical methods. In this way, it will offer an innovative approach to a topic of major transcultural importance.
Details on the block seminar starting April 22, 15:00-16:00 CET (s.t.), can be found on BASIS. The first session, May 24, 9:00-13:00, is open to anyone interested – including non-students. Please register via e-mail: [Email protection active, please enable JavaScript.]
Webinar on Current Challenges for Intercultural and Interreligious Relations
On 25 March 2021, the department for Intercultural Theology of the Protestant Theological Faculty will offer a webinar workshop in cooperation with the European Society for Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies.
The webinar will focus on the pandemic as a challenge for intercultural and interreligious relations.
Find out more about the topics or register directly for the webinar, which will take place via ZOOM, 1-3:30pm.
Webinar on the Master’s Program in (Extended) Ecumenical Studies
Get to know the Master’s program in (Extended) Ecumenical Studies! On 25 February you can meet lecturers and student-ambassadors in our live webinar. Learn more about modules, duration of studies and funding opportunities.
Of course, there will also be plenty of space for questions and answers.
The webinar via ZOOM will start at 2pm – simply log in. Meeting ID: 928 9601 5550, Password: 202846
New Resilience Project Granted
© Volker Lannert / Universität Bonn
Congratulations to the Department of Systematic Theology and Hermeneutics on the approval of a new project: For the next 18 months, the Volkswagen Foundation will financially support the project, which explores the role of transcultural semantics and symbols for resilience during the Corona pandemic.
The project follows a hermeneutic approach and combines historical perspectives, semantic analysis, cultural theory and anthropology. It aims to investigate the impact of transcultural symbolism on resilience in the transcultural dimension of the Corona pandemic.
Resilience has once again become a concept of central importance during the Corona pandemic. As in other moments of crisis, resilience develops in individual and social contexts and finds expression in diverse semantic and symbolic reactions to actual and expected scenarios.
We look forward to the first results of the new resilience project!
Young Researcher Award
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What does “post-truth” or “post-facts” mean, actually: lies, bullshit, illusionary self-deception? The Institute of Hermeneutics of the University of Bonn directed the question to young researches from all over Germany.
A committee now selected the best answers and the award winners presented their approaches at a digital symposium. Read more.
From Archways to Car Doors
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Every day throughout Advent season, the "Schlosskirche", along with the Protestant Theological Faculty of the University of Bonn, opens a door – and thereby allows insights into everyday faculty life and the lives of the faculty members.
Find the "Schlosskirche" on Instagram: @schlosskirche_bonn
Learning Spaces
© Gregor Hübl / Universität Bonn
In the winter semester 2020/21, the University of Bonn offers various learning and working spaces for students ("Lernräume 2020"). The learning spaces can be booked via the ULB homepage.
For further support services in the winter semester, please visit the Coronavirus Updates.
Church Services
© Volker Lannert / Universität Bonn
Like every semester, there will be a series of church services in the winter semester 2020/21. Since the "Schlosskirche" is currently closed due to Corona, the way in which the services are celebrated will vary.
The video of the church service to mark the opening of the semester can be found here.
Freshers’ Week
On Monday, 26th October 2020, we started the new semester with a church service, followed by an academic lecture by Prof. Wolter.
After some more opening events this week, next week the courses will begin.
Welcome (back)
As the Faculty of Protestant Theology, we would like to welcome our (new) students for the winter semester 2020/21.
Not only the Rector, but also the Deans of the Faculties send their warmest greetings – this year by video.
ExStra Work-Study Grant
The ExStra Work-Study Grant – Excellence in Study and Research Activities offers you the possibility to immerse yourself in the centuries-long tradition of careful academic research in the heartland of the Reformation by examining the diversity of Christianity within different global denominations through the master programs Ecumenical Studies (MESt) and Extended Ecumenical Studies (MEESt).
Congratulations to all Graduates!
We would like to congratulate you as graduates of the academic year 2019/20 on the completion of your studies.
As it is not possible to celebrate as usual in the current situation, the University of Bonn has set up a portal to celebrate in an innovative way – with you, the graduates, and your families and friends.
We invite you to the “Digital Unifest 2020”!
Theo Talks 02: Not All Roads Lead to the Pulpit
Lina Burkit and Miriam Dorlaß chat about Biblical languages, the potential of animals and nature in pastoral care, and how studying theology isn't always about personal faith.
Theo Talks 01: The Americans
Drew Davis and Matthew Robinson talk German theology, current projects, and life as American expats in Germany.
The Relevance of Theology
Theology students discuss how and why theology is relevant in today's changing world (German-language).
Resilience in Religion and Spirituality
The DFG-FOR 2686 Project, Resilience in Religion and Spirituality is now underway under the leadership of Professor Dr. Cornelia Richter. The interdisciplinary research team combines academics from theology, philosophy, psychosomatics, psychotherapy, palliative medicine and spiritual care. The first phase of the project runs from 2019 until 2022 and focuses on the hermeneutics of resilience narratives, the creation of an interdisciplinary definition of resilience, and the development of more precise diagnostic tools.
2019 Bonn-Oxford Colloquium
Students Speak
“Theology, for me personally, is something that always acts according to the situation it’s in. It is always looking for engagement, whether it’s with other fields or with society.” - Carla Weitensteiner
Students Speak
“Theology, to me, isn’t something that’s done only for yourself, alone in your room, but something many, many people work on together.” - Sebastian Rogowsky
New Publication
Matthias Grebe's work, After Brexit?: European Unity and the Unity of European Churches is now available.
New Publication
Dr. Andreas Pangritz's work, Karl Barth in the Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is now available.
New Publication
Dr. Phillip Andrew Davis Jr.'s work, The Place of Paideia in Hebrews' Moral Thought is now available from Mohr Siebeck.
New Publication
Dr. Matthew Ryan Robinson's Redeeming Relationship, Relationships That Redeem is now available from Mohr Siebeck.
Conference on Religious and Philosophical Conversion
The Conference on Religious and Philosophical Conversion in the Ancient Mediterranean Traditions took place at the University of Bonn on 25.-27.09.2018. Many renowned speakers from all over the world (Argentina, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, USA) and excellent junior researchers gave lectures. New insights into the conversion experience, its religious and psychological connotations, and sociological conditions with particular focus on Judaism, early Christianity, and Hellenistic philosophical schools of antiquity were gained. The conference proceedings will soon be published by Verlag Brill / Leiden. Gallery
