Gerhard J. Bellinger
Encyclopedia
Gerhard J. Bellinger is a German
Theologian, university Professor for Theology
of the New Testament
and History of Christianity
and History of religions
at Dortmund University of Technology.
, and he got an Abitur
1952 from the Collegium Josephinum Bonn
. He began his studies of philosophy
, theology
and history
at Paderborn
and then at Munich
. At the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
he had been taught by Michael Schmaus (dogmatic Theology), Romano Guardini
(philosophy of religion) just as by Helmut Kuhn (American cultural history and philosophy), Hermann Krings (philosophy) and Franz Schnabel (history).
In order to attain the degree in catholic theology Bellinger continued his studies starting from 1961 at the university of Münster
. There he was taught by Joseph Ratzinger / now Pope Benedict XVI. (dogmatic theology and dogma history), Walter Kasper (dogmatic theology), Johann Baptist Metz
(fundamental theology) and above all by Theodor Filthaut (practical theology), which referred him to the Roman Catechism
as topic of a thesis and became then also his doctor father. At Münster Bellinger 1966 obtained a "Doctor theologiae (Dr. theol.)" degree (Doctor of Divinity
in English), and 1967 he was nominated as scientific assistant at the educational university in Münster.
In 1970 Bellinger was appointed professor ordinarius for catholic theology and its didactics at the educational university Hagen
, and 1976 he moved to the educational university at Dortmund
. From 1977 to 1979 Bellinger became dean for the faculty of catholic and Protestant theology. Since 1980 he teaches catholic theology and its didactics with the emphasis Theology
of the New Testament
and History of Christianity
and History of religions
at the Dortmund University of Technology. As teacher of the university he had imparted in his lectures and seminars to the necessary knowledge of instruction religious teachings during three decades generations of studying for the teaching profession in the different school stages. According to his name is designated the Professor Dr. Bellinger Foundation in the trusteeship of the SOS Children's Villages
foundation, by which all children and young person in the SOS Kinderdorf support within the range of the education and the training experience. On the occasion of his retirement
in 1996 Bellinger received an anniversary publication from his colleagues and friends.
Within the range of the Theology
of the New Testament
, which represented the principal part of his topics in lectures and seminars, the "Great Bible Guide" (1985), in whom he cooperated substantially, is translated into three languages: French (1990), Spanish (1991) and Russian (1993). One of his major works is his comprehensive book "Jesus: life – working – fate" (2009), which appears as a summary of his lectures about the theology of the New Testament.
On the area of the History of Christianity
his main point of research was the history of the denominational catechisms, whereby he has written in continuation of his thesis the "Bibliography of the Roman Catechism" (1983), and he also has examined the "First Cathecismo Pequeno of Diogo Ortiz de Vilhegas", a manual of catechetic instruction, which appeared in the year 1504 in Lisbon and as first of all has used the word "catechism
" as title for this kind of books.
In his point of research History of religions
he occupied himself strongly with the religions of mankind and the myths of the peoples. The results of his researches are several times published. His "Great Religions Guide. 670 religions, churches and cults." (1986) is translated into five languages: Italian (1989), Hungarian ((1993), Polish (1999), French ((2000) and Serbian (2004).
Likewise his "Great Encyclopedia of the mythology
. 3100 items to the myths of all people" (1989) is often printed and translated into five languages: Danish (1993), Slovenian (1997), Polish (2003), Chinese (2006) and Bulgarian (2008).
A contribution to the Sexualethik of the religions is his comprehensive work "Sexuality
in the religions of the world" (1993), which is translated into Czech (1998).
Furthermore he wrote over 800 reference articles for general reference books and specialized encyclopedias as well as numerous essays in specialized scientific compilations, manuals and magazines.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Theologian, university Professor for Theology
Theology
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...
of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and History of Christianity
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity concerns the Christian religion, its followers and the Church with its various denominations, from the first century to the present. Christianity was founded in the 1st century by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who they believed to be the Christ or chosen one of God...
and History of religions
History of religions
The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious experiences and ideas. This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,000 years ago in the Near East. The prehistory of religion relates to a study of religious beliefs that existed prior to the...
at Dortmund University of Technology.
Study and occupation
Bellinger was born 1931 in BochumBochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
, and he got an Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
1952 from the Collegium Josephinum Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. He began his studies of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, theology
Theology
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...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at Paderborn
Paderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
and then at Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. At the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich , commonly known as the University of Munich or LMU, is a university in Munich, Germany...
he had been taught by Michael Schmaus (dogmatic Theology), Romano Guardini
Romano Guardini
Romano Guardini was a Catholic priest, author, and academic. He was one of the most important figures in Catholic intellectual life in 20th-century.- Life and work:...
(philosophy of religion) just as by Helmut Kuhn (American cultural history and philosophy), Hermann Krings (philosophy) and Franz Schnabel (history).
In order to attain the degree in catholic theology Bellinger continued his studies starting from 1961 at the university of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
. There he was taught by Joseph Ratzinger / now Pope Benedict XVI. (dogmatic theology and dogma history), Walter Kasper (dogmatic theology), Johann Baptist Metz
Johann Baptist Metz
Johann Baptist Metz is a Catholic theologian. He is Ordinary Professor of Fundamental Theology, Emeritus, at Westphalian Wilhelms University in Münster, Germany....
(fundamental theology) and above all by Theodor Filthaut (practical theology), which referred him to the Roman Catechism
Roman Catechism
During the Catholic Counter-Reformation, the Council of Trent commissioned the Roman Catechism to expound doctrine and to improve the theological understanding of the clergy...
as topic of a thesis and became then also his doctor father. At Münster Bellinger 1966 obtained a "Doctor theologiae (Dr. theol.)" degree (Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in English), and 1967 he was nominated as scientific assistant at the educational university in Münster.
In 1970 Bellinger was appointed professor ordinarius for catholic theology and its didactics at the educational university Hagen
Hagen
Hagen is the 39th-largest city in Germany, located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Ruhr area, 15 km south of Dortmund, where the rivers Lenne, Volme and Ennepe meet the river Ruhr...
, and 1976 he moved to the educational university at Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
. From 1977 to 1979 Bellinger became dean for the faculty of catholic and Protestant theology. Since 1980 he teaches catholic theology and its didactics with the emphasis Theology
Theology
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...
of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and History of Christianity
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity concerns the Christian religion, its followers and the Church with its various denominations, from the first century to the present. Christianity was founded in the 1st century by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who they believed to be the Christ or chosen one of God...
and History of religions
History of religions
The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious experiences and ideas. This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,000 years ago in the Near East. The prehistory of religion relates to a study of religious beliefs that existed prior to the...
at the Dortmund University of Technology. As teacher of the university he had imparted in his lectures and seminars to the necessary knowledge of instruction religious teachings during three decades generations of studying for the teaching profession in the different school stages. According to his name is designated the Professor Dr. Bellinger Foundation in the trusteeship of the SOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental international development organisation which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949. It was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria...
foundation, by which all children and young person in the SOS Kinderdorf support within the range of the education and the training experience. On the occasion of his retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
in 1996 Bellinger received an anniversary publication from his colleagues and friends.
Teaching and research
His teaching and research cover a wide field ranging from historical to literary studies. His achievements are finding national and international acknowledgement. Apart from his training activity at the university Bellinger wrote important specialized books, which were translated into thirteen languages.Within the range of the Theology
Theology
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...
of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, which represented the principal part of his topics in lectures and seminars, the "Great Bible Guide" (1985), in whom he cooperated substantially, is translated into three languages: French (1990), Spanish (1991) and Russian (1993). One of his major works is his comprehensive book "Jesus: life – working – fate" (2009), which appears as a summary of his lectures about the theology of the New Testament.
On the area of the History of Christianity
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity concerns the Christian religion, its followers and the Church with its various denominations, from the first century to the present. Christianity was founded in the 1st century by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who they believed to be the Christ or chosen one of God...
his main point of research was the history of the denominational catechisms, whereby he has written in continuation of his thesis the "Bibliography of the Roman Catechism" (1983), and he also has examined the "First Cathecismo Pequeno of Diogo Ortiz de Vilhegas", a manual of catechetic instruction, which appeared in the year 1504 in Lisbon and as first of all has used the word "catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
" as title for this kind of books.
In his point of research History of religions
History of religions
The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious experiences and ideas. This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,000 years ago in the Near East. The prehistory of religion relates to a study of religious beliefs that existed prior to the...
he occupied himself strongly with the religions of mankind and the myths of the peoples. The results of his researches are several times published. His "Great Religions Guide. 670 religions, churches and cults." (1986) is translated into five languages: Italian (1989), Hungarian ((1993), Polish (1999), French ((2000) and Serbian (2004).
Likewise his "Great Encyclopedia of the mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
. 3100 items to the myths of all people" (1989) is often printed and translated into five languages: Danish (1993), Slovenian (1997), Polish (2003), Chinese (2006) and Bulgarian (2008).
A contribution to the Sexualethik of the religions is his comprehensive work "Sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
in the religions of the world" (1993), which is translated into Czech (1998).
Furthermore he wrote over 800 reference articles for general reference books and specialized encyclopedias as well as numerous essays in specialized scientific compilations, manuals and magazines.
Publications
- Der Catechismus Romanus und die Reformation. Die katechetische Antwort des Trienter Konzils auf die Haupt-Katechismen der Reformatoren. Paderborn 1970. – Reprint 1987. ISBN 3-487-07849-XnullBibliographie des Catechismus Romanus Ex Decreto Concilii Tridentini ad Parochos (1566–1978). Baden-Baden 1983. ISBN 3-87320-087-2.
- Knaurs Großer Bibelführer. München (1985) 1999. ISBN 3-426-66417-8.
- Knaurs Großer Religionsführer. 670 Religionen, Kirchen und Kulte. München (1986) 1992. ISBN 3-426-26221-5
- Knaurs Lexikon der Mythologie. 3100 Stichwörter zu den Mythen aller Völker München (1989) 1999. ISBN 3-426-66415-2
- Im Himmel wie auf Erden. Sexualität in den Religionen der Welt. München 1993. ISBN 3-426-26502-8
- Der erste Cathecismo von 1504 und sein Verfasser Diogo Ortiz des Vilhegas. In: Communio et sacramentum. Pamplona 2003. ISBN 84-8081-011-4, S. 201–219.
- Jesus: Leben – Wirken – Schicksal. Norderstedt 2009. ISBN 978-3-8370-3964-1.
Literature
- Hermann Horn (Hrsg.): Didaskalos. Studien zum Lehramt in Universität, Schule und Religion. Festschrift für Gerhard J. Bellinger zum 65. Geburtstag. Dortmund 1996. ISBN 3-928861-52-2.
- Kürschners Deutscher Gelehrten-Kalender 2005. Bio-bibliographisches Verzeichnis deutschsprachiger Wissenschaftler der Gegenwart. 20. Ausgabe. Saur, München 2005. ISBN 3-598-23612-3.
External links
- Works by or about Gerhard Bellinger in libraries (WorldCat catalog) http://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_bks&q=Bellinger%2C+Gerhard&fq=dt%3Abks%95
- This article includes text from the German Wikipedia :de:Gerhard Bellinger