Philosophy and Religion - Religions in Germany

The Circumcision of Jesus, detail; Guido Reni about 1635-1640, photo: public domain

Circumcision, Judges and the Law. An interview with Ilhan Ilkiliç

In June 2012 the Cologne District Court judged the circumcision of boys to be a form of bodily harm. Meanwhile the Bundestag has passed a law on circumcision.More ...

„Wenn Jesus heute leben würde, hätte er auch ein Facebook-Profil.“ Foto: Rafal Ulicki © iStockphoto

God is in Heaven – and on the Web

Modern Christians find spiritual support in online heaven. They pray interactively, confess online, and attend Facebook church services or a midday devotional on Twitter. God reveals himself to modern Christians on the Internet.More ...

The foundation press conference of the Frankfurt Council of Religions, April 2009; © Rat der Religionen

A Body of Believers: Frankfurt Council of Religions

In April 2009, an organization was founded in Frankfurt that is unique in Germany: the Council of Religions. It fights against discrimination and is committed to tolerance and freedom of religion.More ...

“Young Moslems wish to play their part in shaping Germany”. An Interview with Naika Foroutan

A new study is shedding light on the worlds in which young Moslems in Germany live. Goethe.de talked to Naika Foroutan.More ...

Dorothea Nold and Magdalena Kallenberger: „Raumtausch“, Videostill

Urban spirits – Beyond the Secular City

The cultural and research project Global Prayers studies the boom of religion in the world’s metropolises.More ...

Islam at German Universities? The Post Graduate Program Islamic Theology

Teachers of Islamic religious education can be found in Germany. A new PhD programme seeks to promote academic Islamic theology.More ...

Presentation of the Luther Year at the Kirchentag in Dresden 2011; © Luther2017/Markus Scherer

From Freedom to Music: The Luther Decade Progresses

As part of the Luther Decade, the build-up to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 includes eight theme years. 2011’s theme was “freedom”. The topicality of Luther ranges from controversial to sensual.More ...

Federal President Christian Wulff and his wife Bettina Wulff welcome Pope Benedict XVI in front of Schloss Bellevue in Berlin; © Wikipedia/CC/WDKrause

Touching a German Nerve: In the Wake of the Pope’s Visit

Disappointment, uncertainty – these are the sort of words the media has been using to describe Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Germany. The German Bishops’ Conference talks of a historic visit.More ...

Matthias Lutz-Bachmann; © Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main

Renaissance of Religion? An Interview with Matthias Lutz-Bachmann

Are religions experiencing a comeback? Goethe.de talked to Matthias Lutz-Bachmann, a philosopher of religion, about a post-secular society.More ...

Opponents to the building of a mosque; © fotolia

Capitulation or Scaremongering? German Intellectuals and Islam

When it comes to Islam, the German media appear to alternate between waves of criticism and waves of support. Society is deeply divided in its perception of this immigrant religion.More ...

The Islam scholar Dr. Götz Nordbruch studying trends among Muslim young people; photo: private

Islamic Youth Culture in Germany: What Is “Pop Islam” and Where Is It Going?

The Islamic Studies scholar Götz Nordbruch explains why young Muslims take their faith so seriously and what has happened to the pop Islam.More ...

Cover detail from Die Prediger des Islam; © Herder Verlag

The Preachers of Islam. Rauf Ceylan about Imams in Germany

Muslim prayer leaders shape Islam in Germany, but are often worse integrated than their parishioners. The sociologist of religion Rauf Ceylan has now devoted a book to them.More ...

“Teaching Religious Competence”. An Interview with Edith Franke

Religious scholars, ethnologists and theologians have established a new centre for interdisciplinary religious research in Marburg. Goethe.de talked to the religious scholar Edith Franke.More ...

Website of the Central Council of Jews in Germany; © Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland

Central Council of Jews in Germany Turns 60

60 years after its foundation, the Central Council of Jews in Germany can look back over an amazing success story. Jewish life has become more diverse thanks to migration and reorientation.More ...

Melanchthon-Porträt von Hans Holbein; © Melanchthonhaus Bretten, Fotoarchiv

The “Teacher of Germany”. The 450th Anniversary of the Death of Philipp Melanchthon

Philipp Melanchthon was the quiet scholar alongside the rather stormy Luther. In times of friend / foe thinking, precisely that has made him a controversial figure.More ...

Detail of the book cover of “Theologie und Vergangenheitsbewältigung”; © Schöningh

Theology After Auschwitz in The Third Generation

A deliberate “theology of Auschwitz” arose in Germany only in the 1970s. Now a new generation is posing new questions. Now, the responsibility of Christian in view of the culprits and their acts is at the heart of the discussion.More ...

Jewish-Muslim Dialogue in Germany

In practice and history, Jews and Muslims have been closer to one another than to Christianity. Nevertheless, progress in the dialogue between the minority religions in Germany is difficult – for political reasons.More ...

The Calvin Year in Review: Interview with Achim Detmers

In 2009 Christians all over the world commemorated the 500th anniversary of the birth of the reformer John Calvin. Dr. Achim Detmers drew up a balance and spoke about Calvin’s image and about the identity of Reformed Christians.More ...

Luther monument; © Stiftung Luthergedenkstätten in Sachsen-Anhalt

“Luther’s Influence Continues Today.” Interview with Stefan Rhein

In 2017, it will be 500 years since Martin Luther started the Reformation. A “Luther Decade” is preparing this event. The manager of the “Luther2017” office explains what what is to come.More ...

“Every Pupil Has The Right to Denominational Religious Instruction” – An Interview with Bülent Ucar

The nation-wide teaching of Islamic religion at German schools will require several thousand academically trained professionals.More ...

Sri Paskaran; © Südpol Redaktionsbüro/Irina Fernandes

Prayer Centre in Europe: The Hindu Temple in Hamm

Once a year, the Westphalian city of Hamm becomes the meeting place of Tamil Hindus from all over Europe. This June, too, approximately 25,000 of them will celebrate there the great fourteen-day temple festival.More ...

Montage made up of Cologne Cathedral and Cologne Synagogue; ; © Sabine Tenta

The Foundation for Dialogue: Societies for Christian-Jewish Cooperation

The readmission of a Holocaust denier to the Catholic church has put a considerable strain on Christian-Jewish relations.More ...

Religions in Germany