Theology

In this second collection of studies, Michael Fishbane further delves into the complex and diverse relationships between the 'biblical text' and 'exegetical culture'. In doing so, he emphasizes the varieties of Jewish exegetical culture, and the interplay between culture, text, and theology.

Episodes of collective violence have come to us in forms of texts that were designed in such a way as to manipulate the perception and emotional response of a specific audience. Jonathan Stutz shows that, for this reason, early Christian narratives on religious violence have to be read against the background of ancient perceptions of violence and alongside ancient texts that aimed at legitimizing or de-legitimizing the use of physical coercion.

In today's society the significance of religious affiliations continues to decline. This has consequences for the organisation of religious education at public schools. Lower Saxony is responding to this challenge with a model of Christian RE for which both churches are jointly responsible. It raises specific legal and theological-pedagogical questions, which this volume explores.

Hans Martin Müller attempts to mediate between the theological and the legal points of view in ecclesiastical law and the profession of faith. The purpose of his study is to examine the significance of theology for the practice of governing the church and for the Protestant understanding of the office of the church as well as the connection between the concept of the church and the church order.