- Born in Frankfurt a.M. School in Bonn and Paris 1984-1990 Studied Theology and Indology (Göttingen, St. Andrews, Ham... moreBorn in Frankfurt a.M.
School in Bonn and Paris
1984-1990 Studied Theology and Indology (Göttingen, St. Andrews, Hamburg, Bonn)
2000 PhD on Mission history (Kirchl. Hochschule Wuppertal 2000)
Career
1994 - 1998 Junior Lecturer in Ecumenism, Missions and Religious Studies (KiHo Wuppertal)
1998 - 2000 Kindernothilfe (Development Aid Agency)
2000 - 2006 Mission Relations Secretary (Churches Together in Britain and Ireland)
2006 - 2011 Secretary for Ecumenical Formation (EKHN)
2011 - 2023 Academic Advisor and Researcher on New Religious Movements (EKD)
2023 Research Consultant on Anglicanism and World Ecumenism (Konfessionskundliches Institut Bensheim)edit - Prof. Dr. Friedrich Huber, Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal (PhD supervisor)edit
Zusammenfassung Der Artikel setzt Wesen und Auftrag der Weltanschauungsarbeit (Apologetik) in Beziehung zur Konfessionskunde. Beide Arbeitsfelder haben in Theologie und Methoden viel gemeinsam. Der zentrale Unterschied besteht im Hinblick... more
Zusammenfassung Der Artikel setzt Wesen und Auftrag der Weltanschauungsarbeit (Apologetik) in Beziehung zur Konfessionskunde. Beide Arbeitsfelder haben in Theologie und Methoden viel gemeinsam. Der zentrale Unterschied besteht im Hinblick auf die Zielsetzung. Während die Weltanschauungsarbeit sich v. a. als Dienst an der Gesellschaft gestaltet, ist die Konfessionskunde eine binnenkirchliche Disziplin. Insofern hier Christen anderen Christen begegnen, steht sie unter dem ökumenischen Imperativ, das heißt unter der Zusage und Zumutung, „dass sie alle eins seien.“
Research Interests: Philosophy and Humanities
Research Interests:
The meek public reaction to the antisemitic murder of Sarah Halimi is indicative of a public unwillingness to acknowledge the threat of Muslim antisemitism in France. This is compared to the trial of Jewish historian Georges Bensoussan.... more
The meek public reaction to the antisemitic murder of Sarah Halimi is indicative of a public unwillingness to acknowledge the threat of Muslim antisemitism in France. This is compared to the trial of Jewish historian Georges Bensoussan. This trial shows how the ever more frequent accusation of "islamophobia" is used to intimidate academic critics of Islam. The strategy is now known as "jihad by trial" because it is efficient in silencing criticism even though almost all trials end in acquittals - but the process as such is disruptive for the life and work of the accused.
Research Interests:
The anti-Covid measures have created a new awareness for conspiracy theories. Whether these are really on the increase, as alarmists frequently claim, is unproven and doubtful. But Covid is a new catalyst for conspirational thinking.... more
The anti-Covid measures have created a new awareness for conspiracy theories. Whether these are really on the increase, as alarmists frequently claim, is unproven and doubtful. But Covid is a new catalyst for conspirational thinking.
Conspiracy theories flourish on the political left as much as on the right. They are nourished by a victim mentality that is widespread among minorities. In various countries "antiracist" speakers adhere to unsubstantiated conspirational beliefs that their racial group is or would be discriminated against in hospitals.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the blame of "conspiracy theory" is often instrumentalised by governmental institutions in order to ward off legitimate political criticism or scientific evidence that does not fit with government policies.
Conspiracy theories flourish on the political left as much as on the right. They are nourished by a victim mentality that is widespread among minorities. In various countries "antiracist" speakers adhere to unsubstantiated conspirational beliefs that their racial group is or would be discriminated against in hospitals.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the blame of "conspiracy theory" is often instrumentalised by governmental institutions in order to ward off legitimate political criticism or scientific evidence that does not fit with government policies.
The Black Lives Matter movement incorporates strong antisemitic elements as is shown by public statements of its leaders and frequent attacks on Jewish institutions during its often violent demonstrations. Apart from a specifically... more
The Black Lives Matter movement incorporates strong antisemitic elements as is shown by public statements of its leaders and frequent attacks on Jewish institutions during its often violent demonstrations.
Apart from a specifically political left-wing antisemitism, the roots of BLM has older roots in a specific hostility towards Jews in the radical wing of the Civil Rights Movement (James Baldwin).
Article available here:
https://www.ezw-berlin.de/fileadmin/user_upload/ezw-berlin
Apart from a specifically political left-wing antisemitism, the roots of BLM has older roots in a specific hostility towards Jews in the radical wing of the Civil Rights Movement (James Baldwin).
Article available here:
https://www.ezw-berlin.de/fileadmin/user_upload/ezw-berlin
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The article compares the new "Catechism" (2012) of the New Apostolic Church Assessment in order to assess the inner reform movement that led to its integration into the mainstream ecumenical movement. In: Funkschmidt, Kai (ed.):... more
The article compares the new "Catechism" (2012) of the New Apostolic Church Assessment in order to assess the inner reform movement that led to its integration into the mainstream ecumenical movement.
In: Funkschmidt, Kai (ed.): Bewahrung und Erneuerung. Ökumenische Analysen zum neuen Katechismus der Neaupostolischen Kirche, (EZW-Texte 228), Berlin p.17-45
In: Funkschmidt, Kai (ed.): Bewahrung und Erneuerung. Ökumenische Analysen zum neuen Katechismus der Neaupostolischen Kirche, (EZW-Texte 228), Berlin p.17-45
Research Interests:
Should we abandon "mission", both the term and the activity? Various German churches have in recent decades publicly declared that for theological reasons the will desist from mission / evangelism among Jews. More recently a discussion... more
Should we abandon "mission", both the term and the activity? Various German churches have in recent decades publicly declared that for theological reasons the will desist from mission / evangelism among Jews.
More recently a discussion has come about whether this should also apply to Islam (as many Muslims demand).
This paper was originally part of a public discussion process launched by the Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland.
More recently a discussion has come about whether this should also apply to Islam (as many Muslims demand).
This paper was originally part of a public discussion process launched by the Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland.
Research Interests:
The context of this paper is the rekindling of (Satanic) Ritual Abuse (SRA) conspiracy theories in Europe in recent years (international gangs of members of societal elites which torture, rape, murder, cannibalise children in the context... more
The context of this paper is the rekindling of (Satanic) Ritual Abuse (SRA) conspiracy theories in Europe in recent years (international gangs of members of societal elites which torture, rape, murder, cannibalise children in the context of satanic or other rituals).
This spread of this conspiracy theory became known as the "Satanic panic" which lasted from 1980 to 1995 in America. The police never found any trace of any of these crimes.
The problem is that alleged victims of these rituals have memories which were "rediscovered" in therapeutic contexts. Albeit fictional, such memories feel subjectively real. They are so to speak "genuine" memories of fictional events.
In this volume memory researchers from Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland explain how such memories can emerge in contexts which are conducive to mental suggestion (like therapy).
This spread of this conspiracy theory became known as the "Satanic panic" which lasted from 1980 to 1995 in America. The police never found any trace of any of these crimes.
The problem is that alleged victims of these rituals have memories which were "rediscovered" in therapeutic contexts. Albeit fictional, such memories feel subjectively real. They are so to speak "genuine" memories of fictional events.
In this volume memory researchers from Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland explain how such memories can emerge in contexts which are conducive to mental suggestion (like therapy).
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In the wake of the 1960s and 1970s influx of Eastern religious traditions into Western culture esoteric ideas have long since entered the churches. This trend manifests itself in the practice of ordinary church members, esoteric ideas... more
In the wake of the 1960s and 1970s influx of Eastern religious traditions into Western culture esoteric ideas have long since entered the churches. This trend manifests itself in the practice of ordinary church members, esoteric ideas popping up in sermons, Indian initiation rites as part of Sunday school. Occasionally ordained ministers simultaneously practice as witches, shamans and Feng Shui advisors.
The article analyses the phenomenon and critically assesses its theological implications for the understanding of the church.
The article analyses the phenomenon and critically assesses its theological implications for the understanding of the church.
Research Interests:
N'est-il pas honteux que les fanatiques aient du zèle et que les sages n'en aient pas ? Il faut être prudent, mais non pas timide. (Voltaire) Conversion is a touchy topic, prone to engender resentment and friction. Even in mission... more
N'est-il pas honteux que les fanatiques aient du zèle et que les sages n'en aient pas ? Il faut être prudent, mais non pas timide. (Voltaire)
Conversion is a touchy topic, prone to engender resentment and friction. Even in mission theology it has become an area to tread carefully.
This is partly due to a simplistic notion of conversion as an either-or process where people reject one religion (and possibly community) to adopt another.
But even the Bible contains various models of conversion, of which this total re-orientation is only one. Typically for instance Paul becoming a Christian still stayed a Jew in his own mind.
This paper distinguishes four different understandings of "conversion".
Conversion is a touchy topic, prone to engender resentment and friction. Even in mission theology it has become an area to tread carefully.
This is partly due to a simplistic notion of conversion as an either-or process where people reject one religion (and possibly community) to adopt another.
But even the Bible contains various models of conversion, of which this total re-orientation is only one. Typically for instance Paul becoming a Christian still stayed a Jew in his own mind.
This paper distinguishes four different understandings of "conversion".
Research Interests:
"Theology of Life" is one expression of a narrative focused on "Life" as a goal in itself, as an ulitmate good that supposedly is self-explicatory. "Life" in this usage is meant to express not just the simple reality of physical... more
"Theology of Life" is one expression of a narrative focused on "Life" as a goal in itself, as an ulitmate good that supposedly is self-explicatory.
"Life" in this usage is meant to express not just the simple reality of physical existence but an all-encompassing good that contains a notion of good life, harmony, well-being, social cohesion etc. Usually these specifiers are expressioin of one particular political and social understanding of what is good (pacifism, harmony, ecological responsibility etc.)
Thus the proponents of a "theology of life" see themselves in opposition to a dark Other: those in disagreement are deemed to be the forces of "Death".
The paper describs the prevalence of this "Life"-discourse in theology and questions its assumptions, mainly the romantic notion of "natural" life as harmonious. In reality nature is a brutal and un-emotional struggle and "life" as such cannot be the guiding principle or moral argument it is made to be.
"Life" in this usage is meant to express not just the simple reality of physical existence but an all-encompassing good that contains a notion of good life, harmony, well-being, social cohesion etc. Usually these specifiers are expressioin of one particular political and social understanding of what is good (pacifism, harmony, ecological responsibility etc.)
Thus the proponents of a "theology of life" see themselves in opposition to a dark Other: those in disagreement are deemed to be the forces of "Death".
The paper describs the prevalence of this "Life"-discourse in theology and questions its assumptions, mainly the romantic notion of "natural" life as harmonious. In reality nature is a brutal and un-emotional struggle and "life" as such cannot be the guiding principle or moral argument it is made to be.
Research Interests:
A variety of perspectives on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints aka "Mormons".
Articles by Douglas J. Davies, Michael Utsch, Lionel Atherton, Werner Thiede, Kai Funkschmidt.
Articles by Douglas J. Davies, Michael Utsch, Lionel Atherton, Werner Thiede, Kai Funkschmidt.
Research Interests:
A critical analysis of the the attempts to create multicultural societies in Europe. Although the French, German and British models to do so were conceptually different, they all failed. Europe’s Current Debate on Multiculturalism, in... more
A critical analysis of the the attempts to create multicultural societies in Europe. Although the French, German and British models to do so were conceptually different, they all failed.
Europe’s Current Debate on Multiculturalism, in : Sören Asmus/Christian Schulze (edd.) : "Wir haben doch alle denselben Gott" Eintracht, Zwietracht und Vielfalt der Religionen - FS Friedrich Huber, Wuppertal/Neukirchen, p.224-44
Europe’s Current Debate on Multiculturalism, in : Sören Asmus/Christian Schulze (edd.) : "Wir haben doch alle denselben Gott" Eintracht, Zwietracht und Vielfalt der Religionen - FS Friedrich Huber, Wuppertal/Neukirchen, p.224-44
Research Interests:
In 2017 a mainline Protestant Church in Germany declared in a public statement to henceforth renounce mission among Muslims. This met a long-time demand from Muslim dialogue partners. The paper looks at the history of mission and... more
In 2017 a mainline Protestant Church in Germany declared in a public statement to henceforth renounce mission among Muslims. This met a long-time demand from Muslim dialogue partners.
The paper looks at the history of mission and Christian-Muslim relations and compares this to how they are mis-represented in the church's statements on Islam.
It criticizes certain aspects of the actual Christian-Muslim dialogue in Germany and argues for mission as an indispensable part of a religion's existence and of a free society. Such freedoms are not defended by abandoning them because this implies that they are something inherently aggressive.
(Source: EZW-TEXTE Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen 248 Missionsverzicht? Mission, interreligiöser Dialog und gesellschaftlicher Frieden Zweite, durchgesehene Auflage)
The paper looks at the history of mission and Christian-Muslim relations and compares this to how they are mis-represented in the church's statements on Islam.
It criticizes certain aspects of the actual Christian-Muslim dialogue in Germany and argues for mission as an indispensable part of a religion's existence and of a free society. Such freedoms are not defended by abandoning them because this implies that they are something inherently aggressive.
(Source: EZW-TEXTE Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen 248 Missionsverzicht? Mission, interreligiöser Dialog und gesellschaftlicher Frieden Zweite, durchgesehene Auflage)
Research Interests:
Past and present of the relationship between esoteric and scientific approaches to reality were often less incompatible than commonly assumed. All through the enlightenment there were co-existing traditions advocating "alternative" paths... more
Past and present of the relationship between esoteric and scientific approaches to reality were often less incompatible than commonly assumed. All through the enlightenment there were co-existing traditions advocating "alternative" paths to reality - some of them pursued by "serious" well-established scientists.
Research Interests:
The meek public reaction to the antisemitic murder of Sarah Halimi is indicative of a public unwillingness to acknowledge the threat of Muslim antisemitism in France. This is compared to the trial of Jewish historian Georges Bensoussan.... more
The meek public reaction to the antisemitic murder of Sarah Halimi is indicative of a public unwillingness to acknowledge the threat of Muslim antisemitism in France.
This is compared to the trial of Jewish historian Georges Bensoussan. This trial shows how the ever more frequent accusation of "islamophobia" is used to intimidate academic critics of Islam. The strategy is now known as "jihad by trial" because it is efficient in silencing criticism even though almost all trials end in acquittals - but the process as such is disruptive for the life and work of the accused.
This is compared to the trial of Jewish historian Georges Bensoussan. This trial shows how the ever more frequent accusation of "islamophobia" is used to intimidate academic critics of Islam. The strategy is now known as "jihad by trial" because it is efficient in silencing criticism even though almost all trials end in acquittals - but the process as such is disruptive for the life and work of the accused.
Research Interests:
France is home to both the largest Muslim and the largest Jewish community in Europe. About 60% of the Jews and almost all the Muslims came from North Africa to France after 1945. After a brief look at the history of Muslim-Jewish... more
France is home to both the largest Muslim and the largest Jewish community in Europe. About 60% of the Jews and almost all the Muslims came from North Africa to France after 1945.
After a brief look at the history of Muslim-Jewish relations, the paper looks at the current situation of antisemitism in France. Contrary to common assumptions violent, even murderous attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions in France are almost entirely the work of Arab Muslim immigrants. The history of this violence goes back to the 1980s.
The Jewish reaction is emigration. Many leave the country, even more move to other parts of town to neighbourhoods with fewer Muslims.
The public reaction is often denial and silence, not so much about the acts as such but about the Muslim nature of the problem.
After a brief look at the history of Muslim-Jewish relations, the paper looks at the current situation of antisemitism in France. Contrary to common assumptions violent, even murderous attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions in France are almost entirely the work of Arab Muslim immigrants. The history of this violence goes back to the 1980s.
The Jewish reaction is emigration. Many leave the country, even more move to other parts of town to neighbourhoods with fewer Muslims.
The public reaction is often denial and silence, not so much about the acts as such but about the Muslim nature of the problem.
Research Interests:
From the second world war onward in the context of decolonization Western Mission agencies sought new relationships with their overseas offspring aka young churches. From paternalism to partnership was one of the slogans to describe the... more
From the second world war onward in the context of decolonization Western Mission agencies sought new relationships with their overseas offspring aka young churches.
From paternalism to partnership was one of the slogans to describe the shift. Generally change was slow in coming but some European mission societies chose to fundamentally re-structure. Beginning with the Protestant French Mission Society in the 1970s they co-opted representatives of their partner churches into their decision-making bodies. This meant they were greatly outnumbered in the committees and boards, effectively relinquishing control of their funds and assets.
The book traces compares three such reforms that took place in old mission societes (Paris Mission, London Missionary Society and Rhenish Mission).
It is completely based on archival research in all three bodies.
From paternalism to partnership was one of the slogans to describe the shift. Generally change was slow in coming but some European mission societies chose to fundamentally re-structure. Beginning with the Protestant French Mission Society in the 1970s they co-opted representatives of their partner churches into their decision-making bodies. This meant they were greatly outnumbered in the committees and boards, effectively relinquishing control of their funds and assets.
The book traces compares three such reforms that took place in old mission societes (Paris Mission, London Missionary Society and Rhenish Mission).
It is completely based on archival research in all three bodies.