Interfaith Encounter, Dialogue and Learning in a Secular Context

Research Context

Coexistence between people of different religious and ideological backgrounds is decisive for social peace in a secular society. The "double pluralism" (Peter L. Berger) poses new challenges for churches and religious communities, society and politics, schools and education. Dialogue and encounter as well as interfaith learning can be precious means of peacebuilding. From a theological point of view, they are fundamental dimensions of faith. Practical-theological research on dialogue with Judaism and Islam is of particular importance, because socio-cultural, social and political dynamics affect interfaith coexistence in a secular context and must therefore be explicitly (theologically) taken into account. The research results are addressed to scientists in the field of religion and migration research, Christian communities and churches, multipliers in society, politics and religious communities as well as teachers.

Aims

• Exploring the possibilities and limits of interfaith living and learning in a secular context from a practical-theological perspective
• Research of the theological foundations and contributions to interfaith living and learning in a secular context
• Basic research in the sociology of religion and hermeneutics on the conditions of interfaith living and learning
• Development of theoretical and practical models for living and learning together of religious and ideologically different people for Christian communities and churches, multipliers in society, politics and religious communities as well as teachers
• Promotion of dialogue and encounter between Jews, Christians and Muslims in teaching and concrete dialogue formats

Projects

• Lecture series "Jews, Christians, Muslims. Inter- and Transdisciplinary Perspectives on the interfaith dialogue between the Abrahamic Traditions"
• Interfaith dialogue and encounter and secularity: Empirical and Hermeneutical Foundations
  Interfaith learning
• Practical-Theological Perspectives on the Christian-Jewish Dialogue
• Practical-Theological Perspectives on the Christian-Islamic Dialogue
• Scriptural Reasoning: Trilateral dialogue and encounter between Jews, Christians and Muslims
• Antijudaism and Antisemitism in Pastoral Caree

Team

Regina Polak (lead ), Andrea-Lehner-Hartmann

Activities

• Third Mission
• Councelling
• Courses
• Lectures
• Diploma Theses and Dissertations
  We are looking for students who would like to write their master's theses and dissertations in these areas. If you are interested in a topic related to our projects, please contact regina.polak@univie.ac.at and andrea.lehner-hartmann@univie.ac.at.

Publications

Here you will find a selection of the most important publications.