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About Us

What is ZeKK?

The Center for Comparative Theology and Cultural Studies (ZeKK) was founded in November 2009 as an interdisciplinary research institution at the University of Paderborn. Its aim is to bring different theological and cultural studies disciplines into dialogue and collaboration with each other in order to create an enriching combination of perspectives, experiences and methods. In particular, the ZeKK focuses on the dialogue between Christianity, Islam and Judaism and has unique expertise in the development of Islamic approaches to comparative theology.

Collaboration between scientists makes it possible to bring the theological views of different religions into dialogue and to consider them in a new, dialogue-friendly way. The ZeKK therefore pursues the central goal of elaborating the contribution of the respective religions and the interactions of different disciplines for our society. To this end, the ZeKK organises research collaborations, dialogue co-teaching seminars, summer schools, study trips, lecture series, panel discussions and international conferences. It also maintains close links with theological centres worldwide. In this way, the ZeKK has established a research network at the highest international level, from which students of different religions as well as cultural studies benefit.
Students have the opportunity to complete the subject ‘Comparative Theology of Religions’ as part of the two-subject bachelor’s degree programmes at the University of Paderborn or the subject ‘Theologies in Dialogue’ with various specialisations as part of the two-subject master’s degree programme ‘Culture and Society’ or to acquire certificates in theological dialogue skills. Teacher training students of theology also benefit by attending courses in other theological disciplines and thus acting as multipliers of the conceptual idea of comparative theological dialogue skills in schools.

Through our interview and blog formats, we aim to bring together different perspectives on the interactions between theology, culture and society and to stimulate social dialogue about them.
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What is CTSI?

The International Center for Comparative Theology and Social Issues at the University of Bonn aims to combine and advance international research on comparative theology and to review it from a theological perspective in dialogue with other sciences so that the pluralistic world of religions can be better understood and constructive perspectives can be developed for dealing with major social challenges that are related to religions or are significant for religious semantics, practices and tradition. The CTSI aims to promote cooperation between the theologies of different religions and to create a scientific platform for collaboration with those sciences that address the opportunities and challenges of the social coexistence of different religions and world views; in particular in dialogue with legal, economic, social and political sciences, as well as with the religion-related sciences, philosophy, pedagogy and, last but not least, the historical-philological sciences, which are indispensable for a proper understanding of the world religions, some of which are strongly bound to tradition and rooted in antiquity.

The CTSI provides a platform for innovative topics in comparative theology and related forms of religion-related research, which are committed to the special support and training of young scholars (for example, through the Annemarie Schimmel Fellowships) in the form of cross-disciplinary and cross-location doctoral colloquia, idea workshops and conferences.
Please visit our website for more information.

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