'Theology at State Universities - Model or Relic?' Concerning the constitutionality of teaching theology at state universities, scholars come to a variety of conclusions (requirement, prohibition, or neutrality). In contrast, this work does not analyze the constitutionality of teaching theology at state universities from the perspective of legal dogma alone. Instead, it recognizes that interpretation of constitutional norms is a matter of opinion, and ultimately cannot be isolated from their context: the practical needs of the secular democratic order underlying the Basic Law. This study finds that theology at state universities forms a bulwark against religious fundamentalism by integrating potential enemies of social order into the modern religious framework. Religious communities who accept the invitation for government-funded academic education of faith leaders are then transformed from within in the medium- and long term, pacifying religious and ideological conflicts without state infringement upon religious autonomy and liberty. The multi-perspective approach may convince secular opponents of state-university theology that higher education of faith leaders is not only constitutional, but also serves religious-political interests and preserves basic assumptions of democratic government.

Clemens Steinhilber, geboren 1983; Studium der Rechtswissenschaften: 2012 Erstes Juristisches Examen (Heidelberg) und LL.M. (Krakau); 2012-2016 Promotion an der Juristischen Fakultät Heidelberg mit Forschungsaufenthalten in Montpellier, Berlin, Paris (DU Gratianus 2014/2015 - Institut Catholique de Paris / Paris Sud) und Cambridge. 2011-2015 Lehraufträge an den juristischen Fakultäten der Universität Montpellier 1 (2011/2012), der Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (2012/2013) sowie der Universität Paris Sud (2014/2015). 2015-2017 Rechtsreferendariat am Kammergericht mit Stationen im Bundeskanzleramt und am Bundesverfassungsgericht.

Leseprobe