Vielfalt des Religiösen. Mittelalterliche Literatur im Postsäkulären Kontext

Without question, medieval (text) culture has to be seen in the dominant context of Christianity. But how homogenous is religious culture really at that period? What phenomena of plurality can be witnessed in religious discourse and practices? And which tensions and ambiguities did they provoke? Our conference on “Religious plurality. Medieval literature in post-secular contexts” pursues these questions. By the notion of ‘post-secular context’ we do not suggest to simply project current debates about the status of religions in modern societies onto the Middle Ages. Instead, the concept rather helps as a systematic instrument to highlight ambiguities that otherwise escape the paradigm of secularization.

The papers analyze such phenomena in a broad range of texts and genres, from theological treaties and legends of saints to courtly romances and exemplary narratives. Together they discuss the plurality of medieval religious debates.

Dr. Susanne Bernhard

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Deutsches Seminar - Germanistische Mediävistik
Platz der Universität 3
D-79098 Freiburg