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Mission studies as intercultural theology and its relationship to religious studies: the Religious Studies section of the Academic Association for Theology and the Administrative Board of the German Association for Mission Studies.

Article Excerpt
The intention of the following paper is to define the function and position of the subject mission studies within the area of theology as well as in its interaction with religious studies. In German-speaking universities, religious studies and mission studies are incorporated in different ways. Whereas religious studies can be located both within and without theological faculties, mission studies is a genuine part of theology. The subject, which is taught at nearly all Protestant theological faculties, can be found under various categories, for example: mission and religious studies; history of religion and mission studies; mission theology; religion, mission and ecumenical studies. The reason for this lies in the complex historical development of the subject. In both contemporary public and theological discourse, the term "mission" often leads to confusion and stereotyping, which is why the traditional subject title "mission studies" is frequently the cause of misunderstandings.

The section Religious Studies and Mission Studies of the Academic Association for Theology (WGTh) and the Administrative Board of the German Association for Mission Studies (DGMW) have drawn up this document together. This paper represents the view that in the course of its history, mission studies has been assigned manifold tasks relevant for all of theology and these give this area the character of an "intercultural theology." For this reason it is suggested that the explanatory term "intercultural theology" be added to the traditional term "mission studies" without replacing the name mission studies. The association between mission studies or intercultural theology and religious studies as is customary in theological faculties, has proven to be fruitful...

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