Andreas Grünschloß
Encyclopedia
Andreas Grunschloss (born 1957) is German scholar and the current Professor of Religious Studies at Göttingen University. An ordained Protestant pastor
, he is the author of books and scholarly articles about interfaith
matters and new religious movements. He publishes both in German and in English and is a co-editor of the Marburg Journal of Religion
.
, religious science and psychology at Tübingen University, the University of Michigan
(M.A. in Religious Studies, 1984) and Stanford University
. (Ph.D. in Religious Studies and Missionary Science, 1992, followed by habilitation
in 1998). He is also an ordained Protestant pastor
. Having first taught at Mainz University, he became Professor of Religious Studies at Göttingen University in 2002.
Grunschloss has been a co-editor of the English-language Marburg Journal of Religion
, a peer-reviewed academic Internet journal, since 1999.
In his research and publications, Grunschloss is concerned with interfaith matters. He has authored a book-length German-language study of the work of Wilfred Cantwell Smith
(Religionswissenschaft als Welt-Theologie: Wilfred Cantwell Smiths interreligiöse Hermeneutik, 1994), described in the Journal of Ecumenical Studies as "the most comprehensive, balanced account and evaluation of the life and work of Wilfred Cantwell Smith". In Der eigene und der fremde Glaube: Studien zur interreligiösen Fremdwahrnehmung in Islam, Hinduismus, Buddhismus und Christentum (1999), he wrote about how members of one religion perceive those belonging to other faiths; he argues that as each religion postulates that it has privileged access to the knowledge of how things should be, it fails to see others as they really are, only ever perceiving them from a self-referential perspective as different: assuming a religious identity simultaneously creates the "other".
Grunschloss has also written about new religious movements, notably UFO religion
s such as Raëlianism and Fiat Lux
, as well as Scientology
and authors such as Erich von Däniken
. Grunschloss puts the appeal of UFO religions down to several factors. The thought that there should be angels or aliens overseeing human development is profoundly consoling; and members' sense that they are becoming "light workers" by joining such a movement allows them to feel enhanced self-worth, as they believe they are among the chosen few destined to prepare the new age
. Lastly, Grunschloss says, as the established religions lose their mass appeal, it is only natural that some will be attracted to "freelance" spiritual workers; he sees the most effective response to this development not in an assertion of church tradition, but in retaining the ability to engage in dialogue. Observing that UFO religions tend to combine euhemerism (by reinterpreting celestial beings simply as morally and technologically more advanced aliens) with a distinctly "religious" personal quest, Grunschloss has concluded that "UFO faith, therefore, can be understood to oscillate between disenchantment and re-enchantment."
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, he is the author of books and scholarly articles about interfaith
Interfaith
The term interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels...
matters and new religious movements. He publishes both in German and in English and is a co-editor of the Marburg Journal of Religion
Marburg Journal of Religion
The Marburg Journal of Religion is a peer-reviewed online academic journal that publishes articles on empirical and theoretical studies of religion. It is believed to be the oldest internet journal devoted to the study of religions, the first issue having appeared in April 1996...
.
Academic career
Grunschloss studied Protestant theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, religious science and psychology at Tübingen University, the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
(M.A. in Religious Studies, 1984) and Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. (Ph.D. in Religious Studies and Missionary Science, 1992, followed by habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in 1998). He is also an ordained Protestant pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
. Having first taught at Mainz University, he became Professor of Religious Studies at Göttingen University in 2002.
Grunschloss has been a co-editor of the English-language Marburg Journal of Religion
Marburg Journal of Religion
The Marburg Journal of Religion is a peer-reviewed online academic journal that publishes articles on empirical and theoretical studies of religion. It is believed to be the oldest internet journal devoted to the study of religions, the first issue having appeared in April 1996...
, a peer-reviewed academic Internet journal, since 1999.
In his research and publications, Grunschloss is concerned with interfaith matters. He has authored a book-length German-language study of the work of Wilfred Cantwell Smith
Wilfred Cantwell Smith
Wilfred Cantwell Smith was a Canadian professor of comparative religion who from 1964-1973 was director of Harvard's Center for the Study of World Religions. The Harvard Gazette characterized him as one of the field's most influential figures of the past century...
(Religionswissenschaft als Welt-Theologie: Wilfred Cantwell Smiths interreligiöse Hermeneutik, 1994), described in the Journal of Ecumenical Studies as "the most comprehensive, balanced account and evaluation of the life and work of Wilfred Cantwell Smith". In Der eigene und der fremde Glaube: Studien zur interreligiösen Fremdwahrnehmung in Islam, Hinduismus, Buddhismus und Christentum (1999), he wrote about how members of one religion perceive those belonging to other faiths; he argues that as each religion postulates that it has privileged access to the knowledge of how things should be, it fails to see others as they really are, only ever perceiving them from a self-referential perspective as different: assuming a religious identity simultaneously creates the "other".
Grunschloss has also written about new religious movements, notably UFO religion
UFO religion
UFO religion is an informal term used to describe a religion that equates UFO occupants with gods or other semi-divine beings. Typically, the UFO occupants are held to be extraterrestials and that humanity either currently is, or eventually will become, part of a preexisting extraterrestrial...
s such as Raëlianism and Fiat Lux
Uriella
Uriella is the spiritual leader and founder of the neo-revelationist religious movement known as Fiat Lux .- Fiat Lux :...
, as well as Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
and authors such as Erich von Däniken
Erich von Däniken
Erich Anton Paul von Däniken is a Swiss author best known for his controversial claims about extraterrestrial influences on early human culture, in books such as Chariots of the Gods?, published in 1968...
. Grunschloss puts the appeal of UFO religions down to several factors. The thought that there should be angels or aliens overseeing human development is profoundly consoling; and members' sense that they are becoming "light workers" by joining such a movement allows them to feel enhanced self-worth, as they believe they are among the chosen few destined to prepare the new age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
. Lastly, Grunschloss says, as the established religions lose their mass appeal, it is only natural that some will be attracted to "freelance" spiritual workers; he sees the most effective response to this development not in an assertion of church tradition, but in retaining the ability to engage in dialogue. Observing that UFO religions tend to combine euhemerism (by reinterpreting celestial beings simply as morally and technologically more advanced aliens) with a distinctly "religious" personal quest, Grunschloss has concluded that "UFO faith, therefore, can be understood to oscillate between disenchantment and re-enchantment."
Books
- Religionswissenschaft als Welt-Theologie. Wilfred Cantwell Smiths interreligiöse Hermeneutik (Forschungen zur systematischen und ökumenischen Theologie, 71). Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1994. Summary .
- Der eigene und der fremde Glaube. Studien zur interreligiösen Fremdwahrnehmung in Islam, Hinduismus, Buddhismus und Christentum (Hermeneutische Untersuchungen zur Theologie, 37). Tübingen: Mohr/Siebeck, 1999. Summary .
- Wenn die Götter landen ... Religiöse Dimensionen des UFO-Glaubens. (EZW Texte 153) Berlin 2000. Summary .
Articles
- "Ufological Discourses in Germany". In: Partridge, Christopher. UFO Religions, Routledge 2003, ISBN 9780415263238
- "Waiting for the 'Big Beam': UFO Religions and 'Ufological' Themes in New Religious Movements". In: Lewis, James R. The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements, Oxford University Press, New York 2004, ISBN 9780195149869
- "Ancient Astronaut" Narrations. A Popular Discourse on Our Religious Past", Marburg Journal of ReligionMarburg Journal of ReligionThe Marburg Journal of Religion is a peer-reviewed online academic journal that publishes articles on empirical and theoretical studies of religion. It is believed to be the oldest internet journal devoted to the study of religions, the first issue having appeared in April 1996...
, Volume 11, No. 1, June 2006
External links
- Home page at the Göttingen University website