Lecture in Greifswald: State and religion in the 21st century!

Lecture in Greifswald: State and religion in the 21st century!

On Monday, May 12, 2025, an exciting event will take place in the community hall of the Greifswald town hall. As part of the “University in the Town Hall” lecture series, PD Dr. Felix John from the Theological Faculty of the University of Greifswald will give a lecture on the topic of “State and Religion in the 21st Century”. Admission is free, which makes it easier to access this important topic.

The project that is the focus of the lecture series is called “Corpus Judaeo-Hellenisticum Novi Testamenti digital”. It aims to make source texts from early Judaism and early believers in Christ digitally accessible. Like the University of Greifswald on its website explains, the initiative belongs to the Digital Humanities, a discipline that has been increasingly gaining a foothold in the academic landscape since 2024.

The Corpus Judaeo-Hellenisticum

The Corpus Judaeo-Hellenisticum (CJH) covers between around 300 BC. Literary and non-literary evidence of early Judaism emerged between 200 BC and 200 AD. The aim of the overall project is to create a complete collection, digital documentation and commentary evaluation of these writings. This is intended to enable a deeper interpretation of the New Testament, which in turn is part of the Jewish literary history of this era.

The digital multilingual research platform that is being created as part of this project should be accessible to both researchers and interested laypeople. It will not only serve to document the writings, but also provide interfaces for future research work. The writings of the New Testament, which are considered Jewish texts, safeguard the cultural heritage of the Judeo-Christian tradition, promote Christian-Jewish dialogue and contribute to a better understanding of Judaism.

Role of libraries

In the age of digital transformation, which has also affected the humanities, libraries have taken on a central function as memory institutions. They ensure access to cultural and scientific heritage as well as current knowledge. How saw-leipzig.de describes, libraries play a crucial role in the research process, which is increasingly characterized by digital methods.

The interweaving of humanities and digital tools opens up new possibilities for research and interaction. The Science Council has recognized that research infrastructures and data are crucial for scientific innovations. In addition, the importance of digitized research objects in the humanities was highlighted. The development of new job profiles, such as data librarians, highlights the need to develop skills in the digital world.

The lecture series “University in the Town Hall” is organized jointly by the city and the University of Greifswald and is under the responsibility of Prof. Dr. Matthias Schneider, who works in the Institute for Church Music and Musicology. Further information is available on the Website of the University of Greifswald and interested guests are cordially invited to take part in this important event.