Intercultural Theology as an Interdisciplinary Science: Doing and Negotiating Intercultural Theology

This volume focuses on ‘Doing and Negotiating Intercultural Theology’. Specifically, it introduces a ‘third way’ of practising intercultural theology, which goes beyond two previous approaches: Firstly, until now, the term ‘intercultural theology’ has referred to a theological subject or discipline. Secondly, it characterised a certain cross-disciplinary dimension of theological reflection. As a ‘third way’, beyond these sub-concepts, ICT is broadened, critically reflected upon and explored in depth by everyone involved in interdisciplinary theological studies, including lecturers, students, researchers and readers. This is in reference to global religious and academic exchange processes.

The ten chapters of the volumes therefore offer specific access to the concept of intercultural theology. The authors ― nine professors who taught at the University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology (FIT) in Hermannsburg, Germany, and one former MA student who later became a lecturer ― share their insights into ICT, which they developed and refined through their teaching and learning experience at FIT between 2012 and 2025. Each chapter reflects on personal and shared experiences of ICT. Thus, ICT brings together traditional fields of study, including Mission Studies, Intercultural Biblical Hermeneutics, History of Mission, Ecumenical Studies, Religious Studies, Religious Education, and Development Studies.

Moritz Fischer is a historian of World Christianity and Religious Studies specialising in African spirituality. From 2019 to 2025, he held the Chair of World Christianities and Mission History at FIT.

Erna Zonne-Gätjens is a religious educator and scholar of Religious Pedagogy and Practical Theology. She specialises in Religious Education and held the Chair of Social Work with an Intercultural Perspective at FIT from 2013 to 2025. She now works for the Evangelical Lutheran Mission (ELM) Hermannsburg.

Wilhelm Richebächer is a retired pastor and scholar of Systematic Theology in Intercultural Perspective and Missiology. He served at FIT from 2012 to 2022.