“Dynamics in the History of Religions between Asia and Europe” is a Research project of the Center for Religious Studies (CERES) of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. All religions, which are today commonly known as world religions, have their origin in the vast lands between the Mediterranean and the Pacific. But many other religious traditions also began in that area.

Researchers from all over the world have studied the driving forces behind the evolution and expansion of religions at Bochum’s Käte Hamburger Kolleg Dynamics in the History of Religions between Asia and Europe since 2008.

The research program focuses on the formation and expansion of religions, the mutual permeation of religious traditions and their densifications into the complex figurations called ‘world religions.’ Regionally, the research covers these phenomena in Europe and Asia.

The Käte Hamburger Kolleg Dynamics in the History of Religions between Asia and Europe commenced its research activities under the direction of Prof. Dr. Volkhard Krech in April 2008. In addition to the visiting research fellows, numerous local scholars from Ruhr-Universität Bochum are involved in the institute’s research program, which brings together scholars from a wide range of academic disciplines: religious studies, Classics, Protestant and Catholic theologies, Islamic studies, Japanese studies, Korean studies, Sinology, Indology, Jewish studies, history, and philosophy.

In 2007, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research launched the initiative ‘Freedom for Research in the Humanities.’ Concomitantly the Käte Hamburger Institutes for research in the humanities were introduced as an innovative funding measure. Their goal is to effectively establish core research areas in the humanities at German universities enabling them to compete internationally and also to promote world-wide collaborations with universities and other research facilities.

This is achieved by combining the benefits of individual and cooperative research through a fellowship program. Every year internationally renowned scholars from the humanities are invited to conduct research at the Käte Hamburger institutes for a prolonged period as visiting research fellows.

More information at: khk.ceres.rub.de/en/