Religion & Theology

The series ‘SI Discourses | Society—Church—Religion’ brings contributions from the area at which theology and the social sciences, that is, the Church, social policy and the public sphere, overlap into academic and public discourse. The contributions stem from conferences organised by the Social Science Institute of the Protestant Church in Germany (SI) and other contexts of SI research. Empirical findings and conceptual considerations from the sociology of religion, theology, ethics and economics are presented and controversially discussed. The series focuses on questions of religious communication and practice in contemporary society, social cohesion and social balance, civic engagement and the digital transformation of the economy and society.

According to Johannes C. Hoekendijk, the foundation of the technical civilization came without religion. Even before theology started to reflect on technology as a relevant cultural achievement, technology itself raised the question of truth and meaning. Today, discourses on the cultural shape of the post-industrial, bio-technical, and digital reality are part of our daily life. In this series, ethical questions are related to the motives and beliefs that influence the development and application of technology. Interpretations of meaning in techno-societies and the reconstruction of theological positions come into play. As does the intercultural perspective, for technology and religion are widespread throughout the world as common approaches to crises and solutions.