Systematic Theology develops the specific meaning of the content of the Christian faith (dogma) and the foundation of Christian life (ethics) in their importance for the self- and world perception of modern man. The Reformation tradition, the transformation of traditional teachings as a result of modern philosophical and theological criticism, and the phenomena of religion in general, are of special interest here. A further unique feature in Göttingen is the department of Reformed Theology, which is concerned with reformed dogmatic theology and denominational formation, as well as the social organization of the Reformed Church in the past and present.

Research Areas

The research interests of Prof. Dr. Christine Axt-Piscalar in Dogmatics are the remodelling process of Christian doctrine in modern times (especially Kant, Schleiermacher, Ritschl and the Ritschl School in the 19th century, Pannenberg in the 20th century) and the reformulation of Christianity’s content under modern conditions. She is particularly interested in the relationship between conceptions of God and man. She also links to other disciplines, in particular, philosophy and sociology, in investigating the issue of general religiosity as an anthropological fundament, calling on these disciplines in order to test the plausibility of Christian religious content. A further research area is the specific theology and piety practices of different denominational families. Current publication projects are directed at the self-conception of theology in the past and present (UTB appears 2011) and the doctrine of sin, as well as the theory of freedom in theology and philosophy. In addition, a volume on the doctrine of baptism is in preparation for the German ecumenical publication “Perspektive”.

The chair of Reformed Theology (until 2002 Prof. Busch) was filled in summer semester 2011 with Prof. Dr. Martin Laube.

The work at the Department of Ethics is concerned with the interpretation and reflection of the Protestant ethos. Since winter semester 2001 the chair has been occupied by Prof. Dr. Reiner Anselm. Under the Ethos Research programme Prof. Anselm is investigating the conception of present-day orientation models for lived Christianity, using a combination of systematic and historical methods. This also includes examining these models for their consistency and determinants. This means that the academic work contributes to ensuring that ethos is communicable and thus tradition-forming. In addition, special attention is placed on shaping the profile of Christian orientation knowledge in interdisciplinary discourse. The current bioethical debate forms the basis for three of Prof- Anselm’s specific research projects: A research project funded by the DFG (German Research Society), in collaboration with the Institute of Sociology, University of Munich, provides academic reflections on clinical ethics committees. In a research project which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) in their “Patient as Partner" initiative, a Göttingen Institute is leading an investigation into the importance of Christian values in the genesis of ethical decisions in medicine, especially in decisions concerning the final phase of life. In addition, Prof. Anselm is a member of the research group “Work on the concept of life", which, at the Research Centre of the Evangelical Studies Community (FEST) is dealing with questions on the ontologisation of the concept of life in modern times.
Further information can be found under www.ethik.uni-goettingen.de