Projects

 Developing a Theology of the Interreligious Dialogue from a Jewish-Christian Perspective – Phase 1

The main objective of the project is to further develop Jewish-Christian dialogue on three levels:

  1. at the level of basic theological research with regard to relevant dialogue topics that open up innovative potentials for academic discourse;
  2. at the level of social opinion-forming and public discussions in order to bring about a change of attitude towards Judaism beyond habitualized anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism;
  3. at the level of consultations in decision-making areas relevant to religious policy in order to identify problems, clarify misunderstandings and strengthen cooperation between religious communities in secular contexts. (October 2020 – September 2024)

The generous funding is provided by partners such as the Eugen Biser Foundation in Munich, the Leo Baeck Foundation and the Catholic Academy in Berlin. At the Faculty of Theology at the University of Salzburg, the foundations of Jewish-Christian dialogue are to be researched beyond anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism. As early as the 1960s, the Catholic Church had moved from contempt to recognition of Judaism, according to Gregor Maria Hoff, head of the theological research program in Salzburg. Close historical and contemporary connections between Judaism and Christianity are particularly visible in the capital of Israel: now an international research group from various disciplines is to be established in Salzburg, in which representatives of the two religious communities are also involved. From 2022, a prize will also be awarded in recognition of outstanding merits in Jewish-Christian dialogue.

Project-staff: