The centerpiece of the ceremony will be a panel discussion entitled “Crossing Borders: Living Theology in Europe and Beyond.” Dr. Stefan Attard (Malta), Prof. Dr. João Duque (Braga, Portugal), Prof. Dr. Gusztáv Kovács (Pécs, Hungary) and Prof. Dr. Aušra Vasiliauskaitė (Kaunas, Lithuania) will debate whether theological discourse and religious practices can be transformed and theology (or theologies) can become relevant to society and to interdisciplinary studies.
“Through its partnership with the LSRS, the University of Bonn’s Faculty of Catholic Theology is opening up new opportunities for collaboration at European level and will be able to raise its international profile even further,” says Prof. Dr. Dr. Jochen Sautermeister, Dean of the Faculty of Catholic Theology. “This is yet another innovative component of our faculty’s Excellence Strategy and will help to increase the importance of theology for academia, the Church and society.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. Jean Ehret, Director of the LSRS, adds: “Collaborating with the University of Bonn - a University of Excellence - is bringing the LSRS’s researchers into contact with some highly prestigious colleagues in the Faculty of Catholic Theology who share their interdisciplinary, international outlook. Becoming established as an An-Institut will enable us to work together with all its faculties. Theologies will only be able to remain relevant to society, the Church and academia if they develop in and from dialogue with practitioners from academia, society, politics and the religious community.”
About the Luxembourg School of Religion & Society
The LSRS is a research and educational institution with an extensive international network. Established under public law and supported by the Church, it brings researchers of different religions and from different disciplines together in joint projects. Creative dialogue is fostered by an awareness and understanding of one another’s views, encounters on a deep and meaningful level, and an exchange of ideas and opinions in a spirit of trust. It sets out to re-invigorate theological debate and religious practice while remaining conscious of the relevant preconditions and possibilities.
The Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Bonn
The Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Bonn is one of the most prestigious in Germany, whose teaching is based on a strong track record of research in the individual theological disciplines. The faculty enjoys links with many different projects and institutions. Anyone who studies here will benefit from the interdisciplinary and international focus offered by Germany’s most successful University of Excellence and the “UN city” of Bonn.