Graduate School RePliV

For pluralistic societies, peaceful coexistence between members of different religious communities and non-religious people is a fundamental challenge. But how could such a peaceful existence be possible? What sort of consequences does increasing religious diversity bring about? Moreover, how do politics, the economy, media and civil society influence the processes of religious pluralism? And how do religions regulate themselves within a pluralistic environment? From January 2021 until June 2024, the graduate school "Regional Regulation of Religious Plurality in Comparison" (Regionale Regulierung religiöser Pluralität im Vergleich, RePliV) will address these central questions. Ten doctoral students will conduct research in individual projects, each five from the Center for Religion and Modernity (CRM) at the University of Münster and from the Center for Religious Studies (CERES) at the Ruhr University Bochum. They are supported by experienced scholars from a wide range of disciplines.

The first project phase (2016 to 2020) was entitled "Religious Plurality and its Regulation in the Region" (Religiöse Pluralität und ihre Regulierung in der Region/RePliR). The focus was on the Münsterland and the Ruhr region. In the coming years, special attention will be given to the comparison of different religious communities, regions and countries.

Other important goals are dialogues with a broad public and the cooperation with practice partners, such as religious communities, administrations, media and civil society organizations. Together, research questions are developed, needs for action are identified, and practical solutions are developed.