Cluster of Excellence applies for new funding period

Proposal “Religion and Politics. Dynamics of Tradition and Innovation” submitted

In the context of the federal and state governments’ Excellence Strategy, the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” of the University of Münster has submitted to the German Research Foundation its application for a new funding period starting in 2019. The proposal is entitled “Religion and Politics. Dynamics of Tradition and Innovation”. In future, the Cluster of Excellence’s researchers aim to deal with the question as to how religion actively engaged in political and social conflicts in the past and how it does this today.

The speaker of the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics”, sociologist of religion Prof. Dr. Detlef Pollack, stated: “At the beginning of the millennium, we are experiencing political and social upheavals all over the world in which religion plays a key role.” However, it is controversial what exactly the role of religion is in social and political change, requiring further research. “We, at the Cluster of Excellence, intend to do this in a proven and interdisciplinary manner from antiquity to the present day and in particular with a view to Judaism, Christianity, Islam and their polytheistic precursors. Only if we analyse the current conflicts from a historically sharpened and interdisciplinarily open perspective will we, as scientists, be able to provide societally relevant orientation knowledge.”

According to Prof. Pollack, the aim is to make Münster the most distinguished centre of interdisciplinary religious research in Germany. “The University of Münster has already created permanent structures: with new professorships for example in political science, sociology, Jewish studies and Islamic studies, as well as with new centres such as the Center for Religion and Modernity (Centrum für Religion und Moderne – CRM) and the Centre for Islamic Theology (Zentrum für Islamische Theologie – ZIT).” The “Campus of Religions” will be added, which will bring together Protestant, Catholic, orthodox and Islamic theology as well as non-denominational religious studies. This is intended to strengthen both interdisciplinary cooperation and interreligious understanding. “We will continue the dialogue with politics, religions and the public sphere through intensive research communication.”

In the context of the federal and state governments’ Excellence Strategy, the University of Münster has submitted three proposals in total: in addition to the draft proposal “Religion and Politics”, these were proposals for the Cluster of Excellence “Cells in Motion. Multiscale Imaging to Understand Dynamic Cell Behaviour in Organisms (CiM)” and the Cluster of Excellence “Mathematics Münster. Dynamics – Geometry – Structure”. The final decision is due in September 2018. (vvm)

Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics”

In the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” of the University of Münster, some 200 academics from 14 countries deal with the relationship of religion and politics across epochs and cultures. The research programme, started in 2007, draws on the expertise from around 20 subjects in the humanities and social sciences of the University . The projects range from antiquity until the present day: from the world of ancient gods and Judaism, Christianity and Islam in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period to the current situation in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. (vvm)