Reinhart Hummel
Encyclopedia
Reinhart Hummel was a German theologian
and long-term leader of the Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen (EZW). The EZW (literally: Protestant Centre for Questions on World Views) is a subdivision of the Evangelical Church in Germany
. Located in Berlin, it professes to function as a centralized research, documentation and information center on new religious movement
s. Hummel is also the author of many books about new religious movement
s.
Hummel studied Protestant
theology and received his Ph.D.
in 1963 for the thesis "Die Auseinandersetzung zwischen Kirche und Judentum im Matthäusevangelium" (literally The dialog between church and Judaism in the gospel of Matthew
). Subsequently, he worked as a pastor
in Schleswig Holstein. From 1966 until 1972 he led the Lutheranian
theological college in Orissa
, India. Back in Germany he received a request to research Indian guru movements at the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
. He received the right to lecture with his work "Indische Mission und neue Frömmigkeit im Westen. Religiöse Bewegungen in westlichen Kulturen“, (literally: Indian mission and new piety in the West: religious movements in western cultures) that was published by the Kohlhammer group.
From 1981 until 1994 he was director of the EZW. In his work he disagreed with the concept and explanatory model of Jugendreligion (literally youth religion) for new religious communities, as it was popularized by among others the German author Friedrich-Wilhelm Haack (1935–1991). In the beginning he fully rejected the controversial use of the German word "sekte" (that is translated sometimes with "cult
" but also as "sect
" in English), but in his later works he recognized the justification of the concept in differentiated use.
He asserted that some of the groups monitored by the EZW had developed both in the society as well as in interfaith dialogue in a positive way, i.e. that they had decreased their original potential for conflict. This assertion was both respected and rejected. It would be especially applicable for the Jehovah's witnesses
, the Unification Church
, and ISKCON/Hare Krishnas. In spite of this, the Unification Church is still very critical about his assessment of the church.
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and long-term leader of the Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen (EZW). The EZW (literally: Protestant Centre for Questions on World Views) is a subdivision of the Evangelical Church in Germany
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
. Located in Berlin, it professes to function as a centralized research, documentation and information center on new religious movement
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
s. Hummel is also the author of many books about new religious movement
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
s.
Hummel studied Protestant
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
theology and received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1963 for the thesis "Die Auseinandersetzung zwischen Kirche und Judentum im Matthäusevangelium" (literally The dialog between church and Judaism in the gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
). Subsequently, he worked as a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
in Schleswig Holstein. From 1966 until 1972 he led the Lutheranian
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
theological college in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, India. Back in Germany he received a request to research Indian guru movements at the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
The Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg is a public research university located in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386, it is the oldest university in Germany and was the third university established in the Holy Roman Empire. Heidelberg has been a coeducational institution...
. He received the right to lecture with his work "Indische Mission und neue Frömmigkeit im Westen. Religiöse Bewegungen in westlichen Kulturen“, (literally: Indian mission and new piety in the West: religious movements in western cultures) that was published by the Kohlhammer group.
From 1981 until 1994 he was director of the EZW. In his work he disagreed with the concept and explanatory model of Jugendreligion (literally youth religion) for new religious communities, as it was popularized by among others the German author Friedrich-Wilhelm Haack (1935–1991). In the beginning he fully rejected the controversial use of the German word "sekte" (that is translated sometimes with "cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
" but also as "sect
Sect
A sect is a group with distinctive religious, political or philosophical beliefs. Although in past it was mostly used to refer to religious groups, it has since expanded and in modern culture can refer to any organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of rules and...
" in English), but in his later works he recognized the justification of the concept in differentiated use.
He asserted that some of the groups monitored by the EZW had developed both in the society as well as in interfaith dialogue in a positive way, i.e. that they had decreased their original potential for conflict. This assertion was both respected and rejected. It would be especially applicable for the Jehovah's witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
, the Unification Church
Unification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
, and ISKCON/Hare Krishnas. In spite of this, the Unification Church is still very critical about his assessment of the church.
Footnotes and references
- German WikipediaGerman WikipediaThe German Wikipedia is the German-language edition of Wikipedia, a free and mostly publicly editable online encyclopedia.Founded in March 2001, it is the second-oldest and, with over articles, the second-largest edition of Wikipedia, behind the English Wikipedia...
article :de:Reinhart Hummel dated 18 November 2006 - German WikipediaGerman WikipediaThe German Wikipedia is the German-language edition of Wikipedia, a free and mostly publicly editable online encyclopedia.Founded in March 2001, it is the second-oldest and, with over articles, the second-largest edition of Wikipedia, behind the English Wikipedia...
article :de:Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen dated 18 November 2006 mentioning the following bibliography- Arweck, Elisabeth Researching New Religious Movements. Responses and redefinitions, London/New York 2006, 227-253 ISBN 0-415-27755-8
- Joneleit-Oesch, Silja Die Kirche und die Gurus. Die Geschichte der Evangelischen Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen mit der Hare-Krishna- und der Osho-/Bhagwan-Bewegung, Frankfurt am Main 2003 ISBN 3-87476-433-8
- Pöhlmann, Matthias Kampf der Geister. Die Publizistik der "Apologetischen Centrale" (1921–1937), KoGe 16, Stuttgart u.a. 1998 ISBN 3-17-015461-3
- Pöhlmann, Matthias and Hans-Jürgen Ruppert, Reinhard Hempelmann, Die EZW im Zug der Zeit. Beiträge zu Geschichte und Auftrag evangelischer Weltanschauungsarbeit, EZW-Texte 154, Berlin 2000.
- Hempelmann, Reinhard and Ulrich Dehn, Andreas Fincke, Michael Nüchtern, Matthias Pöhlmann, Hans-Jürgen Ruppert and Michael Utsch (Hg.), Panorama der neuen Religiosität. Sinnsuche und Heilsversprechen zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts, Gütersloh 2001, ²2005 ISBN 3-579-02320-9
Selected bibliography
- German
- Indische Mission und neue Frömmigkeit im Westen. Religiöse Bewegungen in westlichen Kulturen, Stuttgart 1980, ISBN 3-17-005609-3
- Hindu-Gurus heute Wien : Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Österr. Seelsorge Seelsorgeämter, Referat für Weltanschauungsfragen, 1992
- Religiöser Pluralismus oder christliches Abendland? Herausforderungen an Kirche und Gesellschaft, Darmstadt 1994, ISBN 3-534-11717-4
- Gurus, Meister, Scharlatane Freiburg im Breisgau : Herder, 1996
- Vereinigungskirche die "Moon-Sekte" im Wandel Neukirchen-Vluyn : Bahn, 1998 ISBN 3-7615-4979-2
- Reinkarnation Freiburg im Breisgau : Herder, 1999
- Dialog und Unterscheidung Berlin : EZW, 2000
- Östliche Religionen und evangelischer Glaube / Bd. 1. Einführung und Unterrichtsentwürfe 2001
- English
- World Improvement and the Ideal Society article in Update III 1/2, July 1979
- Asiatic Religions in Europe by Dr. Reinhart Hummel with Dr. Bert Hardin, article in Update VII 2, June 1983
- Guru, Miracle Worker, Religious Founder: Sathya Sai Baba article in Update IX 3, Sept. 1985, originally published in German in Materialdienst der EZW, 47 Jahrgang, 1 February 1984
- Remarks on Heber Jentzsch and Scientology short note published in Spirituality in East and West / Update and Dialog 3 October 1993
- Asian Religions in the West: Their Attitude Towards Dialogue and Pluralism article in Spirituality in East and West / Update and Dialog 4, May 1994
External links
- Contribution to the conference "30 years of ISKCON in Germany" appeared in ISKCON communication journal
- Yoga - Meditationsweg für Christen? Probleme einer christlichen Yoga-Rezeption 1990 (German language)
- Reinhart Hummel short biographical information on the website of ISKCON communication journal