Full Breakdown
University of Münster Launches Germany’s First Faculty of Islamic Theology
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Inauguration of a New Academic Unit
The University of Münster inaugurated a faculty dedicated to Islamic theology, marking the first such unit at a German university. The ceremony took place on Thursday evening and was attended by hundreds of guests, including leaders from Christian and Jewish communities and international delegates. The new faculty joins existing Catholic and Protestant theology faculties, creating a three-faculty “Theology Campus” envisioned as a hub for interfaith dialogue.
Background and Significance
Until now, German higher-education institutions have housed separate Catholic and Protestant theology departments but no comparable Islamic counterpart. The establishment of the faculty aims to give Islam an academic standing equal to the other two traditions, reflecting broader efforts to integrate Islamic studies into state-run universities.
Key Figures
Official Statements & Responses
Dean Khorchide pledged that the faculty will focus on scholarly inquiry and remain independent of religious preaching. State Secretary Türkeli-Dehnert emphasized that Islamic theology should secure a firm position within state-run German universities. Rector Wessels described the combined Catholic, Protestant, and Islamic faculties as a “hotspot for interfaith discourse,” underscoring the university’s commitment to dialogue across faith traditions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A faculty is not a pulpit; preaching takes place in the mosque,” — Mouhanad Khorchide — Mouhanad Khorchide, founding dean, University of Münster.
