Institute for Religious Studies

Guest lecture by Prof. Dr. Andrea Rota, University Oslo "Geschichten aus dem Abgrund: Neue dekoloniale Herausforderungen für die Religionswissenschaft.", 29.04.2024, Institut für Religionswissenschaft Contribution with Frau Prof. Dr. Inken Prohl "Soka Gakkai-einzige anerkannte buddhistische Religiongemeinschaft in Deutschland" for the Deutschlandfunk, 13.07.2022 (Audiothek) Podcast with Prof. Dr. Inken Prohl "Der selbst gemachte Buddha. Buddhismus, Kapitalismus und künstliche Intelligenz." for the Podcast "Erschöpfung statt Gelassenheit - Warum Achtsamkeit die falsche Antwort auf ziemlich jede Frage ist", 15.12.2022. (Spotify, YouTube)

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Approaches at the Institute for Religious Studies in Heidelberg

At the Institute for Religious Studies at Heidelberg University both history of religion and current religious developments are subject of teaching and research. The approaches followed in Heidelberg are based in a cultural studies perspective; religious beliefs, practices and materials are products of historical developments, which have to be considered in their respective historical, cultural and societal contexts. Questions of general as well as period-specific religious history and contemporary religious developments are equally considered in research and teaching.

History of Religious Studies in Heidelberg

The subject religious studies was established at Heidelberg University in 1967 with the initial professorship of Günter Lanczkowski (1917-1993). In 1978 this initial professorship was transformed into a full chair in religious history at the Faculty of Philosophy and History, now the Faculty of Philosophy. After the retirement of Günter Lanczkowski in 1982 the professorship remained vacant.

Female Social Realities

Religious studies as a subject draws legitimacy not least from the fact that its perspective is one of cultural studies. Cultural studies takes positions of actors as part of discourses leading to the production of 'reality'. This 'reality' is then contextualized by scholars of religious studies. Contextualizations show the historical conditionality and relativity of reality. Alternative possibilities in historical developments become visible. As a consequence, the status quo can be challenged since it no longer appears as a product of fate or destiny.