The research priority area "Religion and normativity" will contribute to a deeper understanding of the role played by religion in defining past and present cultures and societies.

Research will compare Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Antique religions in the light of exegetic, historical and systematic perspectives.

In a contemporary context, the research priority area will explore whether religion is still normative.

Research profiles

"Religion and normativity" is a broad heading including a number of research projects divided into three themes

• Theme 1: The discursive fight over religious texts in antiquity
• Theme 2: Bible and literature - reception and transformation
• Theme 3: Religion, politics and law

which build on existing research on topics covered by the faculty's research strengths.

With their focus of research on theology and the study of religion, the themes also cooperate with related projects in the humanities and the social science.

The research priority area will contribute to a deeper understanding of the role played by religion in defining past and present cultures and societies. Research will compare Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Antique religions in the light of exegetic, historical and systematic perspectives. In a contemporary context, the research priority area will explore whether religion is still normative.

Definition of the concept "normativity"

"A (religious) norm is a prescriptive or ideal interpretive framework and/or praxis based on socially sanctioned authority."