By May 1945, most major German cities lay in ruins, and a largely demoralised population struggled for subsistence in many areas. National Socialist remnants, Christian faith and communist ideology met in the rubble of the Third Reich. The Protestant and Catholic Churches attempted to ‘re-Christianise’ the Volk and reverse secularisation, while the German communists sought to inspire dynamism for their socialist project in Eastern Germany. This thesis recreates the religious world of Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia in the Soviet zone, 1945-9, and analyses ‘religio-politics’ (the interactions between the secular authorities and the Churches), the affairs of the priesthood/pastorate, and the behaviours, mentalities and emotions of ‘ordinary people’ amongst the pews. After the American withdrawal in July 1945, the Soviet authorities occupied the entirety of Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, and they proclaimed a ‘freedom of religion’. The realities of this policy were different in each state, and the resolution or non-resolution of local-level disputes often determined Church and State relations. At the grassroots, though, many people engaged in a latent social revolt against all forms of authority. The Churches’ hopes of ‘re-Christianisation’ in 1945 were dashed by 1949, despite a brief and ultimately superficial ‘revival’. The majority of people did not attend church services regularly, many allegedly practiced ‘immorality’, and refused to adopt ‘Christian neighbourly love’ in helping often-destitute refugees. ‘Re-Christianisation’ also did not incur comprehensive denazification or a unified pastorate, and there was even a continuation of the Third Reich Kirchenkampf in some areas. Christian ideas of guilt for a popular turning from God, much less for Nazism and its crimes, rarely resonated amongst the population and some sections of the pastorate. This mentality encapsulated the popular rejection of authority, whether spiritual or political, that endured up to and beyond the foundation of the German Democratic Republic in October 1949.

Sin Ka Kwan Almond. / Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / INTRODUCTION --- p.5 / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Chinese Community in Germany --- p.6 / Chapter 1. --- Historical Development of Chinese Settlement in Germany --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1. --- Chinese Labor Migration before WWII --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2. --- Chinese People in Germany in the Post WWII period --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3. --- Growing Chinese Migration since 1980s --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4. --- The Chinese in Germany Today --- p.10 / Chapter 2. --- Chinese Migrant Groups in Germany --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1. --- Chinese Students: --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2. --- Migrant Businesses: --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3. --- Illegal Immigrants / Asylum Seekers --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4. --- Chinese Descendants in Germany --- p.18 / Chapter 3. --- Conclusion --- p.18 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Chinese Migrant Churches in Germany --- p.20 / Chapter 1. --- Terminology: Migrant Churches --- p.20 / Chapter 2. --- Chinese Christian Communities in Germany --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1. --- The F.M.C.D.-Centered Evangelical Network (德華福音友會） --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2. --- European- Chinese Theological Seminary (歐華神學院） --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3. --- The Chinese Overseas Christian Mission (基督教華僑佈道會) --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4. --- Chinese German Christian Fellowship (中德基督徒使團) --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5. --- Other Publications --- p.31 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Difficulties Encountered by Chinese Missionaries --- p.32 / Chapter 1. --- Cultural Shock --- p.32 / Chapter 2. --- Missionary's Children --- p.33 / Chapter 3. --- Lack of Satisfaction - Mobility of the members --- p.34 / Chapter 4. --- Different Expectations on the Role of the Pastor --- p.35 / Chapter 5. --- Source of Funding --- p.36 / Chapter 6. --- Insufficient Attention Given by Church Authorities.. --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Reflections on Mission Strategies --- p.38 / Chapter 1. --- Openness to Inculturation --- p.38 / Chapter 2. --- Language and Theological Training --- p.40 / Chapter 3. --- Interreligious Dialogue --- p.41 / Chapter 4. --- Globalization and Mission --- p.42 / Chapter 5. --- Case Study ´ؤ Reflection for the Mission Strategy of a Local Church --- p.43 / Chapter 6. --- Is Pentecostalism a Way Out? --- p.46 / Conclusion --- p.48 / Bibliography --- p.49

This study offers an overdue exploration of the early years of the deaconess community in Neuendettelsau from a gender perspective. Drawing on rich archival material, it focuses on the process of the formation of a distinctive collective identity. Central to this study is the assumption, drawn from the social sciences, that collective identity is a social construction which requires the participation of the whole group through identification and which is consolidated by developing specific rituals, symbols, codes and normative texts, which facilitate integration, and by constructing external boundaries, which separate from the world and wider church. The centrifugal forces which came into play when deaconesses were sent out in isolation were counterbalanced by a communal life which offered forms of participation and identification for the individual members and which consolidated their sense of belonging. The first chapter introduces the methodology. Chapter Two explores the social, cultural and theological context of the foundation of the Deaconess Institute, and offers a brief outline of the institution's historical development. The third chapter offers an in-depth analysis of the initiation ceremony as a rite which both admitted into the community and conferred an ecclesiastical office. Chapter Four analyses formative and normative texts that shed light on the community's norms, values, and expectations. In the fifth chapter, non-literary means of consolidating and affirming the deaconesses' collective identity are explored. This study concludes that the process of the emergence of a specific deaconess culture was pervaded by bourgeois norms, values, patterns of behaviour and notions about gender roles which measured out the women's radius of action and were at times difficult to reconcile with the deaconess profession.

The topic of dissertation is the view and the understanding of term ?love? in Turkish-German coexistence. The dissertation is divided into two main sections. The first one contains general information about life of Turks in Germany. The history-overview of migration to Germany precedes this description. In the theoretical section there is also described the meaning of intercultural life, intercultural literature and intercultural movie. This section is based especially on the studied literature. The second section of dissertation includes analysis of literature work and movie from the view of characters-characteristic and their understanding of term ?love?. Also we can find here the description, how each character copes with the feeling ?to be in love?. The goal of the dissertation is to show intercultural life in the context of the basic human feeling?in the context of love.

German text / Zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts markiert der zeitliche Wendepunkt gleichzeitig einen kirchlichen Krisenpunkt. Die sinkende Zahl der Gottesdienstbesucher sowie der stetige Rückgang der Kirchenmitgliedschaften verdeutlichen die fehlende Bindekraft der Kirchen in Deutschland. Dieses zurückgehende Interesse an institutioneller Religiosität steht in scharfem Kontrast zu dem zu beobachtenden Interessenanstieg an spirituellen Themen und Angeboten. In der vorliegenden Forschungsarbeit wird dieses scheinbare Paradoxon untersucht und darüber hinaus erörtert, in welcher Form die Kirchen der Nachfrage nach Sinn und Spiritualität mittels der Rückgewinnung ihrer eigenen spirituellen, mystischen Dimension begegnen können. Dabei geht es unter Berücksichtigung des voranschreitenden komplexen Prozesses weltweit enger werdender Verflech-tungen und umfassender Strukturumbrüche konkret darum, die Chancen und Herausforderungen einer Respiritualisierung der Kirchen zu beleuchten. Darüber hinaus werden Handlungsempfehlungen für eine geistliche Erneuerung der kirchlichen Praxis in Betracht gezogen. / The beginning of the 21st century marked not only a turning point in time but also a crisis point for churches. The decrease in church attendance and the steady decline in church membership demonstrate the lack of the churches’ bonding power in Germany. This declining interest in institutional religion stands in sharp contrast to a noticeable increasing interest in spiritual issues and offers. The research presented here examines this seeming paradox and also discusses how churches can meet the demand for meaning and spirituality by reclaiming their own spiritual, mystical dimension. In considering the increasingly complex processes of global interdependence and major structural changes, this dissertation aims to examine the opportunities and challenges of a re-spiritualization of the churches. In addition, recommendations for a spiritual renewal of church practices are considered. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

German text / Das Ziel dieser Masterarbeit ist, das gesellschaftlich aktuelle Thema der Inklusion in einen missionstheologischen Kontext einzuordnen und Folgerungen für die kirchliche Praxis zu ziehen. In einem ersten Schritt wird der interdisziplinäre Forschungstand zum Thema Exklusion und Inklusion in Deutschland diskutiert sowie dargestellt wie komplex und schwierig überwindbar Exklusion ist. In der biblisch-theologischen Einordnung wird aufgezeigt, dass die inhaltliche Ausrichtung der aktuellen „Inklusionsdebatte“ in biblischen Texten und Motiven wiederzufinden ist und Jesus im Neuen Testament ein Beispiel für Inklusion gegeben hat. Inklusion wird dabei als Konzept zur Transformation gesellschaftlicher Bezüge und Strukturen verstanden, mit dem Ziel Exklusion zu verhindern und gesellschaftliche Teilhabe zu ermöglichen. Zur theologischen Reflexion und Einordnung dieses Themenkomplexes werden die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse missionstheologisch ausgewertet und Überschneidungen mit weiteren biblischtheologischen und missionstheologischen Konzepten dargestellt. Auf diesem Fundament werden abschließend Ansätze entwickelt, wie Inklusion heute in Kirche und Mission praktisch verortet werden kann. / This dissertation aims at relating the societal issue of inclusion into the context of a theology of mission. It asks which conclusions can be drawn for church life. Firstly, the interdisciplinary state of research on exclusion and inclusion is discussed within a German context. It is shown how complex exclusion is and how difficult to overcome. Biblical contrasting shows that the current topical focus of inclusion is found in biblical texts and motifs and that Jesus has set an example for inclusion. Here, ‘inclusion’ is understood as transforming structures and societal relations to prevent exclusion and enable partaking in social life. Theological reflection and justification are achieved by analysing the results from a theology of mission’s perspective and identifying shared grounds to other theological concepts and ones from a theology of mission. On the basis of this foundation, approaches are developed how to live inclusion in church and misson today. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Text in German, summaries in German and English / Rund 70% aller Ostdeutschen gehoren keiner Kirche oder Religionsgemeinschaft an, und sind somit uberwiegend konfessionslos. Die Konfessionslosen sind jedoch keine homogene Gruppe. Zudem ist Konfessionslosigkeit ein Negationsbegriff, der lediglich besagt, was jemand nicht glaubt. Um die konfessionslosen Ostdeutschen besser mit dem Evangelium zu erreichen, ist es jedoch hilfreich zu wissen was sie glauben. Denn in dieser Untersuchung wird davon ausgegangen, dass auch Konfessionslose an etwas glauben. Der Fokus dieser Studie, richtet sich auf die Glaubensvorstellungen der ostdeutschen jungen Erwachsenen, im Alter von 18-26 Jahren, die nach der Wende 1989 geboren und sozialisiert wurden und somit ,,postsozialistisch" sind. Von Interesse ist die inhaltliche Fullung, die sinnstiftenden Elemente, die Pragung, sowie die Lebens- und Alltagsrelevanz des Glaubens dieser jungen Erwachsenen, als auch die missionarische Ansprechbarkeit auf der Grundlage dieser Ergebnisse. Dazu wurde in der brandenburgischen Stadt Cottbus, auf die sich diese Studie beschrankt, eine qualitative Studie mit halbstandardisierten Leitfadeninterviews durchgefuhrt. / Approximately 70% of Germans living in East Germany (the former German Democratic Republic) belong neither to a church, nor to a religious fellowship. These "confession-less" are, however, not a homogenous people group. To describe people as confession-less is negative terminology, which says simply that they do not believe. In order to better reach the confessionless East Germans with the Gospel, it is helpful, of course, to know what they believe. This study proceeds from the assumption, that every person believes on something. The focus of this study is on young adults in eastern Germany from 18-26 years of age, who were born and received their socialization after the peaceful revolution of 1989 and who are therefore "post-socialistic''. The belief of these young adults is analyzed in regard to its content, the elements that give it meaning, its characteristics and its relevance for their lives in general, as well as for their everyday life. In addition, of concern is their level of missional responsiveness, based on the results of this analysis. In this study, quality-based, partially standardized, guided interviews were employed in the city of Cottbus (Brandenburg, Germany), to which this study is limited. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

German text / Zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts markiert der zeitliche Wendepunkt gleichzeitig einen kirchlichen Krisenpunkt. Die sinkende Zahl der Gottesdienstbesucher sowie der stetige Rückgang der Kirchenmitgliedschaften verdeutlichen die fehlende Bindekraft der Kirchen in Deutschland. Dieses zurückgehende Interesse an institutioneller Religiosität steht in scharfem Kontrast zu dem zu beobachtenden Interessenanstieg an spirituellen Themen und Angeboten. In der vorliegenden Forschungsarbeit wird dieses scheinbare Paradoxon untersucht und darüber hinaus erörtert, in welcher Form die Kirchen der Nachfrage nach Sinn und Spiritualität mittels der Rückgewinnung ihrer eigenen spirituellen, mystischen Dimension begegnen können. Dabei geht es unter Berücksichtigung des voranschreitenden komplexen Prozesses weltweit enger werdender Verflech-tungen und umfassender Strukturumbrüche konkret darum, die Chancen und Herausforderungen einer Respiritualisierung der Kirchen zu beleuchten. Darüber hinaus werden Handlungsempfehlungen für eine geistliche Erneuerung der kirchlichen Praxis in Betracht gezogen. / The beginning of the 21st century marked not only a turning point in time but also a crisis point for churches. The decrease in church attendance and the steady decline in church membership demonstrate the lack of the churches’ bonding power in Germany. This declining interest in institutional religion stands in sharp contrast to a noticeable increasing interest in spiritual issues and offers. The research presented here examines this seeming paradox and also discusses how churches can meet the demand for meaning and spirituality by reclaiming their own spiritual, mystical dimension. In considering the increasingly complex processes of global interdependence and major structural changes, this dissertation aims to examine the opportunities and challenges of a re-spiritualization of the churches. In addition, recommendations for a spiritual renewal of church practices are considered. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

German text / Das Ziel dieser Masterarbeit ist, das gesellschaftlich aktuelle Thema der Inklusion in einen missionstheologischen Kontext einzuordnen und Folgerungen für die kirchliche Praxis zu ziehen. In einem ersten Schritt wird der interdisziplinäre Forschungstand zum Thema Exklusion und Inklusion in Deutschland diskutiert sowie dargestellt wie komplex und schwierig überwindbar Exklusion ist. In der biblisch-theologischen Einordnung wird aufgezeigt, dass die inhaltliche Ausrichtung der aktuellen „Inklusionsdebatte“ in biblischen Texten und Motiven wiederzufinden ist und Jesus im Neuen Testament ein Beispiel für Inklusion gegeben hat. Inklusion wird dabei als Konzept zur Transformation gesellschaftlicher Bezüge und Strukturen verstanden, mit dem Ziel Exklusion zu verhindern und gesellschaftliche Teilhabe zu ermöglichen. Zur theologischen Reflexion und Einordnung dieses Themenkomplexes werden die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse missionstheologisch ausgewertet und Überschneidungen mit weiteren biblischtheologischen und missionstheologischen Konzepten dargestellt. Auf diesem Fundament werden abschließend Ansätze entwickelt, wie Inklusion heute in Kirche und Mission praktisch verortet werden kann. / This dissertation aims at relating the societal issue of inclusion into the context of a theology of mission. It asks which conclusions can be drawn for church life. Firstly, the interdisciplinary state of research on exclusion and inclusion is discussed within a German context. It is shown how complex exclusion is and how difficult to overcome. Biblical contrasting shows that the current topical focus of inclusion is found in biblical texts and motifs and that Jesus has set an example for inclusion. Here, ‘inclusion’ is understood as transforming structures and societal relations to prevent exclusion and enable partaking in social life. Theological reflection and justification are achieved by analysing the results from a theology of mission’s perspective and identifying shared grounds to other theological concepts and ones from a theology of mission. On the basis of this foundation, approaches are developed how to live inclusion in church and misson today. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

In this research work the missional receptiveness of the non-churched in eastern Germany is examined qualitatively using the example of the meetings of the “no-name” church. The goal of the study is to find out what motivates the non-churched to attend Christian meetings, and to recognize patterns/indicators behind the motivation. For this the context of the non-churched in eastern Germany is first highlighted and the structure of the missional church described. Based on the empirical-theological practice cycle, both planning and execution as well as the results of qualitative interviews carried out with ten visitors to the meetings of the “no-name” church planting initiative are then presented. As a result of repeated coding using the Grounded Theory, five typologies of the non-churched can be highlighted. On the basis of the research results, hypotheses for the missional reachability of the non-churched are formulated and challenges for the practical application indicated. This study wants to contribute to a better understanding of the problems of the reachability of the non-churched in eastern Germany. It shows the strengths and weaknesses of the missional church model which should be taken into account in this context. / In dieser Forschungsarbeit wird qualitativ die missionale Ansprechbarkeit ostdeutscher Konfessionsloser am Beispiel der Treffen der nonamechurch untersucht. Das Ziel der Arbeit ist es herauszufinden, was Konfessionslose motiviert zu christlichen Veranstaltungen zu kommen, um Muster/Indikatoren hinter der Motivation zu erkennen. Dazu wird zunächst der Kontext der ostdeutschen Konfessionslosen aufgezeigt und die Struktur der missionalen Gemeinde beschrieben. Anschließend werden anhand des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus sowohl Planung und Durchführung, als auch die Ergebnisse qualitativer Interviews dargestellt, die mit zehn Besuchern der Treffen der Gemeindegründungsinitiative nonamechurch geführt wurden. Als Ergebnis des mehrmaligen Codierens unter Anwendung der Grounded Theory lassen sich fünf Typologien von Konfessionslosen herausarbeiten. Auf der Grundlage der Forschungsergebnisse werden Thesen bezüglich der missionalen Erreichbarkeit von Konfessionslosen formuliert und Herausforderungen für die praktische Umsetzung aufgezeigt. Die vorliegende Studie will einen Beitrag zum besseren Verständnis der Problematik der Erreichbarkeit ostdeutscher Konfessionsloser leisten. Sie zeigt Stärken und Schwächen des missionalen Gemeindemodells auf, die in diesem Zusammenhang zu beachten sind. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)