Did you know...

  • that Religious Studies is not a theological discipline, but a non-denominational, cultural studies subject?
  • that Religious Studies can also be studied without basic studies (Bachelor/Master/Doctorate) within the framework of the Bachelor Religious Education (Religious Studies Education)?
  • that condition-free admission to the MA Religious Studies is possible after completing the two extension curricula in any undergraduate program?
  • that almost any undergraduate degree (Bachelor, Master, Doctorate) can be used for admission to the MA Religious Studies?
  • that required courses (usually consisting of the two extension curricula) can be completed not only before the start of the study program but also during the study programme?
  • that you can learn more about the self-image of the subject Religious Studies, the cultural studies discipline on the topic of "religion", here?
  • that EU/EEA/CH citizens do not pay tuition for their B.A./M.A./Ph.D. studies? Non-EU/EEA citizens are required to pay tuition fees of 749.42 Euro/semester.This includes all degree programmes (B.A./M.A./Ph.D.).

News

  • For students of Religious Studies, we are offering our mentoring program again this semester for questions and difficulties during their studies. You can find more information here.
  • We cordially welcome Professor Irina Sotirova, Sofia University (Bulgaria). While at the Department in the winter semester 2024, she co-ordinates a course on "Cave Sanctuaries on the Silk Road."
  • Congratulations to Christoph Hammer on being awarded the Wilhelm Keilbach Prize for the best Master’s thesis in Religious Studies of the year 2023.
  • Congratulations to Marialuise Unterkircher on the successful completion of the M.A. programme in Religious Studies with a thesis Die Geschichte und Gegenwart in der Neuapostolischen Kirche. Eine Auseinandersetzung mit den Veränderungen der Kirche [The Past and Present in the New Apostolic Church: An Examination of the Changes in the Church] under the supervision of Professor Hans Gerald Hödl.
  • A compact overview of the courses offered in Religious Studies in the Winter semester 2024/25 can be found here.
  • As part of a conference in Frankfurt on "New Dimensions of Jew Hatred. The 7th October 2023 and its consequences", Hüseyin I. Çiçek will give a lecture entitled "Anti-Semitism in Turkey and within the Turkish diaspora in German-speaking countries". Further information on the conference can be found here.
  • We welcome Ivana Ryška Vajdová at the Department and wish her success in the three-year FWF-funded project "Depth Psychology and the Origins of Interpersonal Hatred". Further information on the project can be found here.
  • On 23 September, a project presentation of the Mongolia Cluster entitled "Cultural Exchange between Mongolia and the World – New trends and perspectives" took place in Lecture Hall 3 (ETF).
  • Congratulations to Robert Wurzrainer on the successful completion of the Ph.D. programme in Religious Studies with a thesis on Religion(en) im Ethikunterricht: Theoretische Grundlagen und praktische Perspektiven einer religionswissenschaftlichen Einbringung [Religion(s) in Ethics Education at Schools: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Perspectives for a Religious Studies Contribution] under the supervision of Professor Wolfram Reiss.
  • We welcome Sára Eszter Heidl at the Department. As an Associated Researcher, Ms Heidl will teach courses on the social-scientific study of religions.
  • An article by Alisha Saikia entitled "Death, Reincarnation and Rebirth of BJDs" has been published in the current issue of Religions and can be downloaded here.
  • Congratulations to Lukas K. Pokorny, Ugo Dessì, and Laurence Cox (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) on the publication of their edited volume "East Asian Religiosities in the European Union: Globalisation, Migration, and Hybridity" (BRILL Schöningh). For more information, see here.
  • We welcome our newest Ph.D. student, Ms Trang T. D. Nguyen. Her doctoral research under the supervision of Lukas K. Pokorny is on “Paving the Path toward Unlearned Wisdom: The 'Revived' Trúc Lâm School as a New Tradition of Contemporary Vietnamese Buddhism.”
  • The Department welcomes Lisa Kienzl. While at the Department in the winter semester 2024/25, she will co-ordinate a course on "From Mormon TikTok to Elden Ring: Religion and Media in the 21st Century." For more information, click here.
  • We welcome our new Ph.D. student, Mr Christoph Hammer. His doctoral research under the supervision of Lukas K. Pokorny, will explore Children of Convert Buddhists in Austria.
  • We congratulate our Research Fellow Davide Marino on receiving the "Young Scholars Thesis Award 2023" from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
  • Students in the Master's program Religious Studies now have the opportunity to carry out an independent research project worth 10 ECTS as part of updating a database of religious communities in Vienna. For further information, please contact Prof. Pokorny and Dr. Schuster.
  • In the new QS World University Ranking by Subject 2024, the University of Vienna's Theology and Religious Studies Cluster ranks 21st worldwide.
  • The calls for individual papers as well as closed panels and roundtables for the XXIII IAHR World Congress from 24 to 30 August in Kraków are now open. Further information can be found here.

New Publications

  • Lukas K. Pokorny:
    1. and Laurence Cox, and Ugo Dessì, eds. 2024. East Asian Religiosities in the European Union: Globalisation, Migration, and Hybridity. Paderborn: Brill Schöningh.
    2.     "Possession and Exorcism in Kōfuku no Kagaku." In: Nicole M. Bauer and J. Andrew Doole, eds. 2024. Ideas of Possession: Interdisciplinary and Transcultural Perspectives. New York: Oxford University Press, 303–322.
    3.     and Dominic S. Zoehrer. "'All evil spirits must be brushed off': Possession and Liberation in the Unification Movement." In: Nicole M. Bauer and J. Andrew Doole, eds. 2024. Ideas of Possession: Interdisciplinary and Transcultural Perspectives. New York: Oxford University Press, 285–302.
    4.     "Austria." In: Laurence Cox, Ugo Dessì, and Lukas K. Pokorny, eds. 2024. East Asian Religiosities in the European Union: Globalisation, Migration, and Hybridity. Paderborn: Brill Schöningh, 13–29.
    5. and Laurence Cox and Ugo Dessì. "Introductory Remarks." In: Laurence Cox, Ugo Dessì, and Lukas K. Pokorny, eds. 2024. East Asian Religiosities in the European Union: Globalisation, Migration, and Hybridity. Paderborn: Brill Schöningh, 1–9.
    6. "The Theosophical Daodejing: The Beginnings." In: Lukas K. Pokorny and Franz Winter, eds. 2024. Appropriating the Dao: The Euro-American Esoteric Reception of China. London and New York: Bloomsbury, 61–82.
    7. and Franz Winter, eds. 2024. Appropriating the Dao: The Euro-American Esoteric Reception of China. London and New York: Bloomsbury
    8. and Franz Winter. "China in the Euro-American Esoteric Imagination: Contouring a Lacuna." In: Lukas K. Pokorny and Franz Winter, eds. 2024. Appropriating the Dao: The Euro-American Esoteric Reception of China. London and New York: Bloomsbury, 1–14.
    9.     and Rossella Ferrari, Rudiger Frank, and Ina Hein, eds. 2023. Vienna Journal of East Asian Studies, Volume 15. Paderborn: Brill Schöningh.
    10.     and Grzegorz Frąszczak. "Yiguandao in Vietnam: A Preliminary Exploration." Vienna Journal of East Asian Studies, Volume 15: 310–334.
    11. "Musok: Koreanischer Schamanismus [Musok: Korean Shamanism]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024.  Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 293–298.
    12. "Shintō." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 149–154.
    13. "Sōka Gakkai." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 321–325.
    14. "Vereinigungsbewegung [Unification Movement]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 327–332.
    15. "The Ascended Confucius: Images of the Chinese Master in the Euro-American Esoteric Discourse." In: NVMEN: International Review for the History of Religions, 71 (1), 29–47.
    16. and Franz Winter, eds. Euro-American Esoteric Readings of East Asia. NVMEN. International Review for the History of Religions (Special Issue), 71 (1).
    17. and Franz Winter. "Euro-American Esoteric Readings of East Asia: Introductory Remarks." In: NVMEN: International Review for the History of Religions, 71 (1), 1–8.
  • Birgit Heller:
    1. and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht [Religion and Gender], Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter.
    2. "Gerechtigkeit [Justice]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 459–476.
    3. "Geschlechterstereotype [Gender Stereotypes]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 375–390.
    4. "Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede in der Religiosität [Gender-specific Differences in Religiosity]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 441–455.
    5. "Gewalt [Violence]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 477–491.
    6. "Gottheit und Geschlecht [Deity and Gender]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 425–439.
    7. "Hindu-Religionen [Hindu-Religions]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 89–111.
    8. "Sexualität [Sexuality]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 407–424.
    9. and Edith Franke. "Androzentrismus der Religionen und ihrer Erforschung [Androcentrism of Religions and their Examination]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 23–27.
    10. and Edith Franke. "Feminismus und geschlechtersensible Religionswissenschaft [Feminism and Gender-Sensitive Religious Studies]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 559–562.
    11.     and Edith Franke. "Forschungsgeschichte und Forschungsansätze: von der Frauenforschung zu Transgender Studies [Research History and Research Approaches: from Women's Studies to Transgender Studies]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 37–42.
    12. and Edith Franke. "Geschlechterrollen und religiöse Autorität [Gender Roles and Religious Authority]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 359–373.
    13. and Edith Franke. "Grundbegriffe [Basic Terminology]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 17–22.
    14. and Edith Franke. "Impulse des Feminismus für die Religionswissenschaft [Impulses of Feminism for the Study of Religion]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 29–36.
    15. and Edith Franke. "Körper [Body]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 391–406.
    16. and Edith Franke. "Leitkategorien [Central Categories]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 555–558.
    17. and Edith Franke. "Materialität, Religion und Geschlecht [Materiality, Religion and Gender]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 49–53.
    18. and Edith Franke. "Offizielle Religion und Alltagsreligion/gelebte Religion [Official Religion and Everyday Religion/Lived Religion]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 55–64.
    19. and Edith Franke. "Paradigmenwechsel und Forschungspostulate [Paradigm Shifts and Research Postulates]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 553–561.
    20. and Edith Franke. "Religion und Geschlecht: Verflechtungen und Wechselwirkungen [Religion and Gender: Entanglements and Interactions]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 1–13.
    21. and Edith Franke. "Religion und Geschlechterordnungen [Religion and Gender Structures]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 43–47.
  • Dirk Schuster:
    1. "Yrjö von Grönhagen und die ›Pflegstätte für indogermanisch-finnische Kulturbeziehungen‹. Forschung und Propaganda im SS-›Ahnenerbe‹ [Yrjö von Grönhagen and the 'Care Center for Indo-Germanic-Finnish Cultural Relations'. Research and propaganda in the SS 'Ahnenerbe']." In: Ralph Tuchtenhagen and Laura Hirvi, eds. 2024. Helsinki, Berlin und zwischendrin. Aspekte deutsch-finnischer Verflechtungen im 20. Jahrhundert. Berlin: Nordeuropa-Institut, 55–77.
  • Karl Baier:
    1. "Die magnetische Isis: Natur im Denken Franz Anton Mesmers [The Magnetic Isis: Nature in the Thought of Franz Anton Mesmer]." In: Thomas Ruhland and Friedemann Stengel, eds. 2024. Von der Physikotheologie zum Vitalismus? Transformationen des Verhältnisses von Naturforschung und Religion im späten 18. und frühen 19. Jahrhundert. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 545–591.
    2. "Intentionality and Non-Intentionality in Jung's Active Imaginaton." In: Sarah Perez, Bastiaan van Rijn and Jens Schlieter, eds. 2024. Intentional Transformative Experiences: Theorizing Self-Cultivation in Religion and Philosophy. Berlin: De Gruyter, 243–270.
    3.     "Phallizismus, Ehereform und ritualisierter Sex: Eine alternativreligiöse Konstellation des 19. Jahrhunderts [Phallicism, Marriage Reform and Ritualized Sex: An Alternative Religious Constellation of the 19th Century]." In: Lukas K. Pokorny and Astrid Mattes, eds. 2024. Taking Seriously, Not Taking Sides: Challenges and Perspectives in the Study of Religions. Paderborn: Brill Schöningh, 207–243.
    4.     "The Archetypal Dao: A Look at C. G. Jung's Reception of Chinese Thought." In: Lukas K. Pokorny and Franz Winter, eds. 2024. Appropriating the Dao: The Euro-American Esoteric Reception of China. London and New York: Bloomsbury, 163–200.
  • Hüseyin I. Çiçek:
    1. and Rauf Ceylan. "Alevitische Identität in der Diaspora: Erfahrungen von Exklusion und soziale Integration im deutschsprachigen Raum [Alevite identity in the diaspora: experiences of exclusion and social integration in the German-speaking area]." In: Zeitschrift für Religion, Gesellschaft und Politik, 8 (2024), 109–128.
    2. "Alevis and Turkish-Muslims in Austria: History and Current Developments." In: Rauf Ceylan and Marvin Mücke, eds. 2024. Muslims in Europe. Historical developments, present issues, and future challenges. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, 113–130.
  • Ugo Dessì:
    1. "Italian Zen and the Ways of Globalization." In: Lionel Obadia and Enzo Pace, eds. 2024. The Sociology of Yoga, Meditation, and Asian Asceticism. Leiden: Brill, 15‒40.
  • Johannes Endler:
    1. "Holistisches Milieu [Holistic Milieu]." In: Birgit Heller and Edith Franke. 2024. Religion und Geschlecht, Berlin und Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 351–356.
  • Johann Figl:
    1.     "Der neue Mensch in der Philosophie Nietzsches [The new human being in Nietzsche's philosophy]." In: Mariano Delgado und Klaus Vellguth, eds. 2024. Der bessere Mensch. Religionswissenschaftliche, ethische und theologische Perspektiven, Ostfildern: Matthias Grünewald Verlag, 67–84.
  • Pavel Horák:
    1. and Karolina Maria Kotkowska, eds. Occultism and Politics in Central and Eastern Europe. The Polish Journal of the Arts and Culture. New Series 17 (1).
    2.     and Karolina Maria Kotkowska. "Introduction: Studying the Complex Histories of the Occult and Politics in Central and Eastern Europe." In: The Polish Journal of the Arts and Culture. New Series 17 (1), 7-11.
  • Davide Marino:
    1. "The Daoist Who Wasn't: Albert de Pouvourville, Matgioi, Nguyễn Văn Cang and the Problem of Indochinese Masters in fin de siècle Occultism." In: Lukas K. Pokorny and Franz Winter, eds. 2024. Appropriating the Dao: The Euro-American Esoteric Reception of China. London and New York: Bloomsbury, 83–108.
  • Nickolas P. Roubekas:
    1. and Dimitris Xygalatas and Luther H. Martin, and Donald Wiebe, eds. 2024. "Studying Religion, Past and Present: Papers in Honor of Panayotis Pachis." London & New York: Bloomsbury.
    2.     "On Definition, Theories, and Disciplinary Cooperation: Towards a Modern Study of Ancient Greek and Roman Religion." In: Nickolas P. Roubekas, Dimitris Xygalatas, Luther H. Martin and Donald Wiebe, eds. 2024: Studying Religion, Past and Present: Papers in Honor of Panayotis Pachis. London and New York: Bloomsbury, 62–72.
    3.     "Religious Studies and Greek and Roman Religions: A Work-in-Progress." In: Religious Studies Review 50 (2), 285–289.
    1. "Religious Studies and Greek and Roman Religions: A Work-in-Progress." In: Religious Studies Review 50 (2), 285–289.
  • Alisha Saikia:
    1. "Death, Reincarnation and Rebirth of BJDs". In: Religions 15 (9), 1072.
  • Julian Strube:
    1.     "Esotericism between Europe and East Asia: How the 'Esoteric Distinction' Became a Structure in Cross-Cultural Interpretation." In: NVMEN: International Review for the History of Religions, 71 (1), 9–28.
    2. "Daoism and Kung Fu as Occult Sciences. Historical Comparisons between Chinese Practices and Mesmerism." In: Lukas K. Pokorny and Franz Winter, eds. 2024. Appropriating the Dao: The Euro-American Esoteric Reception of China. London and New York: Bloomsbury, 15–34.
  • Samuel Thévoz:
    1. "'Trainings for Sorcery, Magic, Mystic, Philosophy—for That Which Is Called 'the Great Accomplishment': Alexandra David-Neel’s Written and Unwritten Tibetan Grimoires." In: Cameron Bailey und Aleksandra Wenta, eds. 2024. Tibetan Magic: Past and Present. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 193–220.
    2. und Jeanne Mascolo de Filippis. 2024. "Présentation." In: Alexandra David-Neel, Souvenirs d'une Parisienne au Thibet. Paris: Plon, 21–47.
    3. "Une relation initiatique paradoxale: autour des deux lettres de Jacques Tasset à Alexandra David-Neel conservées dans les archives de la Maison Alexandra David-Neel." In: Revue de l'Association Alexandra David-Néel, 4, 48–67.
  • Human-Friedrich Unterrainer:
    1. et al. "Investigating the Network Ties between Affect, Attachment, and Psychopathology". In: Journal of Affective Disorders, 367, 263–273.
    2. et al. "Is there an affective neuroscience of spirituality? The development and validation of the OCEANic feelings scale." In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 18:1329226.
    3. et al. "Anxious and depressive symptoms mediate the influence of sleep quality on suicidality in young adults." In: Frontiers in Public Health, 12:1322069.
    4. et al. "Primäremotionen und Bindung bei psychischer Erkrankung [Primary emotions and attachment in mental disorder]." In: Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, 70.
    5. et al. "The Relationship Between Attachment, Primary Emotions and Positive/Negative
    Spirituality: A Path Analysis    ." In: Frontiers in Public Health, 12:1375850.
    6. et al. "Influence of Attachment Styles on the Relationship between Primary Emotions and Substance Related Addictive Behaviors." In: Frontiers in Public Health, 12:1380539.
    7. et al. "The effectiveness of a standardized tobacco cessation program on psychophysiological parameters in patients with addiction undergoing long-term rehabilitation: a quasi-experimental pilot study." In: BMC Medicine, 22:184.
    8. et al. "Does adult attachment mediate the relationship between primary emotion traits and eating disorder symptoms?" In: Frontiers in Psychology, 15:1372756.
    9. et al. "Theory of mind abilities during the course of bipolar disorder: A longitudinal study using mixed models." In: Psychiatry Research, 339:116039.
  • Robert Wurzrainer:
    1. and Wolfram Reiss. "Anwendungsorientierte Religionswissenschaft: Aktuelle Beispiele und mögliche Entwicklungen [Application-orientated Religious Studies: Current examples and possible developments]." In: Michael Klöcker, Udo Twoschuka and Martin Rötting, eds. 2024. Handbuch der Religionen. Kirchen und andere Glaubensgemeinschaften in Deutschland und im deutschsprachigen Raum, EL 79. Hohenwarsleben: Westarp. I–5.7.10, 1–29.
    2. "Religionswissenschaft und Ethikunterricht: Potenziale und Perspektiven [Religious Studies and Ethics Education: Potentials and Perspectives]." In: Religionen unterwegs, 30 (2), 28–29.