Press release. First Debates about God and the World

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1 Press release First Debates about God and the World New format by the Cluster of Excellence brings the theologies, the humanities and natural sciences into conversation with one another 100 years of Protestant theology in Münster No single subject can answer complex issues concerning the future Münster, 31 March 2014 (exc) The University of Münster s Cluster of Excellence Religion and Politics intends to stimulate the exchange between Protestant and Catholic theologies, the humanities, and natural sciences. To this end, together with the Department of Protestant Theology, the Cluster will for the first time present the public series Debates about God and the World. Prof. Dr. Reinhard Achenbach, Protestant theologian, dean, and member of the Cluster of Excellence s board of directors, explains, Our societies are facing fundamental political, social, and ethical challenges such as the discussion about medicide for children or the consequences of the financial crisis. No single subject can answer such complex issues anymore. The disciplines should wrestle with these matters together. At each of the debates, taking place on Tuesday evenings between 8 April and 8 July, a theologian and a non-theologian will discuss pressing issues concerning the future in a format open to public contributions. The first step towards interdisciplinary exchange is dispute, according to the scholar. There is no science without dispute. It is just as important as doubt. The new series is a key event in the Department of Protestant Theology s anniversary year: it celebrates its centennial beginning with a ceremony at the Residence on 24 April. It will be followed by numerous lectures, concerts, and symposia. Brain research, cosmology, business ethics The topics of the debates will range from the origins of the universe, brain research, business ethics, and the policy of peace, to the cooperation of religions and their relationship with atheism. Renowned researchers from the University of Münster and other German, French, and Swiss universities were invited: Protestant, Catholic, and Islamic theologians will debate with representatives from philosophy, physics, medicine, sociology of religion, and religious studies, Jewish studies, law, political science, and economics. Among them are the Freiburg neurobiologist Robert-Benjamin Illing, the President of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (GEKE), and regional bishop Friedrich Weber, the Münster medical ethicist Prof. Dr. Bettina Schöne-Seifert, the Münster physicist Prof. Dr. Markus Donath, the Green politician and policy of peace expert Winfried Nachtwei, and Dr. Michael Schmidt-Salomon from the board of the Giordano Bruno Stiftung.

2 The relationship of theology and non-theology of denominational and nondenominational research is not free of tension; their exchange, however, is all the more exciting, according to Old Testament scholar Reinhard Achenbach. Some look at religion from the outside, others from the inside. In doing so, theologians do not intend to dictate to other scholars their view of the world. Rather, there is the opportunity for the disciplines to learn from each other. Biblical exegetes could not work without methods of historical science; pastoral theologians could not do without the insights of psychology. Economists, conversely, increasingly request the expertise of theologians, for example, where international justice is threatened, which is also a consequence of the economic crisis. Medicine, on the other hand, has made tremendous progress as regards the prolonging of life,according to the theologian. But when it comes to decisions at the close of life, it reaches its limits and seeks dialogue with ethics. In brain research, too, the disciplines can complement one another. Natural scientists do not generally describe the transcendental, says Prof. Achenbach. But for some years now, neurologists have been interested in the origins of religion, investigating physiological reactions to religious experience. Here, the dialogue with theologians could also provide new perspectives. Man is not only a biological being. He also has social, psychological, and religious attributes. There is much to talk about here. The debates will be held on Tuesdays from 6.15 to 7.45 p.m. in lecture hall F1 in Münster s Fürstenberghaus, Domplatz 20-22, in place of the regular lecture series of the Cluster of Excellence Religion and Politics. The new format was given the subtitle Disputations between theology and natural and social sciences. (vvm/ska) Pictures: no. 1: Poster Debates about all the World and God, no. 2: Theologian Prof. Dr. Reinhard Achenbach (WWU/Peter Grewer) The dates of the lecture series Pluralität der Religionskulturen Eine Religion viele Religionen Prof. Dr. Andreas Feldtkeller (Evangelische Theologie/ Religions- und Missionswissenschaft sowie Ökumenik, Berlin) und Prof. Dr. Perry Schmidt-Leukel (Religionswissenschaft und Interkulturelle Theologie, Moderation: Dr. Jutta Sperber (Religionswissenschaft, Eine Kirche viele Kirchen Prof. Dr. Johanna Rahner (Katholische Theologie, Kassel) und Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Großhans (Evangelische Theologie/ Ökumenische Theologie,

3 Moderation: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Werbick (Katholische Theologie/ Fundamentaltheologie, Christen Juden Muslime Dr. Eva Maria Hinterhuber (Soziologie, Berlin), Prof. Dr. Susanne Talabardon (Judaistik, Bamberg) und Dr. Milad Karimi (Islamische Philosophie/ Zentrum für Islamische Theologie, Moderation: Prof. Dr. Perry Schmidt-Leukel (Religionswissenschaft und Interkulturelle Theologie, Gott denken Atheismus und traditionelle Religion Dr. Michael Schmidt-Salomon (Philosoph und Vorstand Giordano-Bruno-Stiftung, Oberwesel) und Prof. Dr. Armin Kreiner (Katholische Theologie/ Fundamentaltheologie, München) Moderation: Prof. Dr. Michael Beintker (Evangelische Theologie/ Reformierte Theologie, Gott Mensch Universum Prof. Dr. Markus Donath (Physik, und Prof. Dr. Samuel Vollenweider (Evangelische Theologie/ Neues Testament, Zürich) Moderation: Matthias Schleiff (Evangelische Theologie/ Reformierte Theologie, Monotheismus Polytheismus Trinität? Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Ohlig (Religionswissenschaft, Saarbrücken) und Prof. Dr. Michael Beintker (Evangelische Theologie/ Reformierte Theologie, Moderation: Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Großhans (Evangelische Theologie/ Ökumenische Theologie, Naturwissenschaft und Theologie Neurologie und Kognitionswissenschaft: Entsteht die Religion im Gehirn? Prof. Dr. Robert-Benjamin Illing (Neurologie, Freiburg) und Prof. Dr. Dirk Evers (Evangelische Theologie/ Systematische Theologie, Halle) Moderation: Prof. Dr. Traugott Roser (Evangelische Theologie/ Praktische Theologie, Der Beginn des Lebens

4 Prof. Dr. Bettina Schöne-Seifert (Medizinethik, und Prof. Dr. Reiner Anselm (Evangelische Theologie/ Theologische Ethik, Göttingen) Moderation: Prof. Dr. Thomas Gutmann (Rechtsphilosophie und Medizinrecht, Das Ende des Lebens Dr. Jean-Gustave Hentz (Palliativmedizin, Straßburg) und Prof. Dr. Traugott Roser (Evangelische Theologie/ Praktische Theologie, Moderation: Prof. Dr. Christian Grethlein (Evangelische Theologie/ Praktische Theologie, Theologie und Gesellschaft Internationale Gerechtigkeit: Herausforderungen an die Wirtschaftsethik Prof. Dr. Matthias Casper (Rechtswissenschaft/ Unternehmens- und Kapitalmarktrecht, und Prof. Dr. Traugott Jähnichen (Evangelische Theologie/ Christliche Gesellschaftslehre, Bochum) Moderation: Prof. Dr. Ludwig Siep (Philosophie, Europa und die Verantwortung der Religionsgemeinschaften Landesbischof Prof. Dr. Friedrich Weber (Präsident der Gemeinschaft Evangelischer Kirchen in Europa (GEKE), Braunschweig) und Prof. Dr. Ulrich Willems (Politikwissenschaft, Moderation: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Achenbach (Evangelische Theologie/ Altes Testament, Religion und Bildung Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Ziebertz (Katholische Theologie/ Religionspädagogik, Würzburg) und Prof. Dr. Bernhard Dressler (Evangelische Theologie/ Religionspädagogik, Marburg) Moderation: Prof. Dr. Detlef Pollack (Religionssoziologie, Friedensethik Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Lienemann (Evangelische Theologie/ Systematische Theologie, Bern) und Winfried Nachtwei (Mitglied des Bundestags a.d., Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen, Moderation: Prof. Dr. Marianne Heimbach-Steins (Katholische Theologie/ Christliche Sozialwissenschaften, Contact: Sarah Batelka Centre for Research Communication of the Cluster of Excellence Religion and Politics Johannisstraße Münster

5 Tel.: 0251/ Fax: 0251/ Should you wish to unsubscribe to the press releases of the Cluster of Excellence Religion and Politics, please send an to The Cluster of Excellence Religion and Politics of WWU Münster Some 200 academics from more than 20 disciplines of the humanities and social sciences and from 14 countries do research in the Cluster of Excellence Religion and Politics of the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU). They deal with the complex relationship of religion and politics across epochs and cultures: from the ancient pantheon and Judaism, Christianity and Islam in the Middle Ages and the early modern period to the current situation in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. It is nationally the largest research association of its kind and of the 43 clusters of excellence in Germany, it is the only one to deal with religions. The federal government and the state governments support the project within the scope of the Excellence Initiative with 33.7 million euros from 2012 until The Department of Protestant Theology of WWU, with its approx. 1,400 students, is one of the largest educational institutions for Protestant theology in Europe. With the Institutes for New Testament Textual Research, Ecumenical Theology, Jewish Studies, Ethics and Social Sciences, and the Seminary of Religious Science and Intercultural Theology, the department has research facilities of international standing. An intensive exchange on a high academic level connects the department as much with the Cluster of Excellence as with the Department of Catholic Theology, the Centre for Islamic Theology, and the chair of Jewish Studies.