Religious Studies/Interreligious Dynamics

Religious studies  
Religious studies is a field within the humanities and cultural studies that is not tied to any specific religious affiliation. It explores human actions and ideas, texts and objects, institutions and relationships in both historical and contemporary contexts that are commonly regarded as "religious." At the same time, religious studies critically examines what "religion" means in both academic discourse and everyday understanding, as well as the boundaries of what can be considered "religious."
 

"Interreligious Dynamics" - Your Master's Course in Frankfurt  
The primary focus of this Master's program is the analysis of interreligious relationships, dynamics, and conflicts, both past and present. The course emphasizes Judaism, Christianity, and Islam while also considering their diverse connections with other religions and traditions.  

The program begins with modules on current discourses and methods in religious studies, interreligious relationships, and contemporary and historical issues (MA 01, 02, 03, 05).  

You can then choose between two areas of focus:  

• Intra-, inter-, and transreligious dynamics (Focus 1: MA 07, 08)
• Materiality, media, and literatures (Focus 2: MA 09, 10)

In the optional module (MA 04), you can tailor your studies to your personal interests, while the practice-oriented module (MA 06) allows you to gain experience in a non-academic professional setting. Thanks to a wide range of international partnerships, a stay abroad is also possible during your studies, for example, at Tel Aviv University.
 

Professorships and Areas of Focus  
The master’s degree program in Interreligious Dynamics is carried by the faculties of Protestant Theology (FB 06) and Catholic Theology (FB 07). Teaching is primarily supported by four professorships:  

• Religious Studies/History of Religions (FB 06: Homepage)  
• Religious Studies with a Focus on Jewish-Islamic Relations (FB 06: Homepage)  
• Martin Buber Professorship for Jewish Religious Philosophy (FB 06: Homepage)  
• Theology of Religions and Religious Studies (FB 07: Homepage)  

The range of courses is further enriched by the corresponding professorships from both faculties and the Institute for the Study of Culture and Religion of Islam (FB 09).

Who is the master’s degree in Interreligious Dynamics for?  
Our degree program is designed for anyone interested in:  

• Interreligious and intercultural relationships, both past and present
• The complex cultural and societal interconnectedness of religious phenomena, rituals, texts, and objects
• Current religion-related conflicts, power dynamics, and questions of identity (e.g., in research areas such as postcolonialism, antisemitism, gender studies, anti-Muslim racism, etc.)
• Travel, languages, art, or literature
• Social science methods, historical research techniques, and digital humanities

 What career horizons do I have?  
Successfully completing your degree opens doors to a wide range of career paths, including:  

• Social, political, and cultural fields, such as adult education (political education), museums, media and journalism, migration work institutions, tourism, foundations, and NGOs
• Religious or religion-related institutions, such as offices for worldview issues, churches and academies, Islamic organizations, and dialogue platforms
• International organizations, such as the EU, UN, NGOs, and companies
• Higher-level public service roles, such as the Federal Foreign Office, ministries, and state and federal criminal investigation offices

Here you can find all current contacts for guidance in Religious Studies.

For general inquiries, please reach out to the guidance team for Religious Studies at: religionswissenschaft.fb06@em.uni-frankfurt.de