Portrait

The confessional discipline of Alevi Theological Studies at the University of Vienna is one of the first theological disciplines at university level that conducts research on and teaches Alevism on the basis of writings and traditions in a knowledge-oriented manner and with regard to creating religious meaning. The founding concepts of Alevi theology form the basis of a position of responsibility towards academia, society and state in a culturally as well as religiously pluralistic Europe. With a number of about 1.5-2 million Alevis and their migration history of about 60 years in Europe, a new academic discipline emerges at the University of Vienna. Therefore, the German-language migration context is the source of Alevi theological studies as an academic discipline.

The academic profile is divided into core disciplines that deal with the historical, hermeneutic, practical, systematic and educational field from a theological perspective. Therefore, the interdisciplinary team uses written, oral, ritual, visual and audio-visual source material of the Alevi tradition from various regions of origin and migration contexts. A particular challenge for this new discipline is the simultaneous focus on historical basic research and contemporary practical research, which are interrelated.

The possible religious interpretations resulting from this research are then integrated into academic as well as social discourses. In line with the academic triad of research, teaching and transfer, Alevi Theological Studies consider themselves as a theology in which man and God are understood in relation to each other. This also includes examining people in their respective life-worlds, considering their interpretations and meeting them with respect. The ethical principle of "consent" (Rızalık) of the Alevi tradition provides an important principle for peaceful coexistence in a religiously, culturally and ethnically pluralistic Europe.