Broad support in Germany for Islamic theology at universities

Feb 1, 2010, 16:35 GMT

Berlin - Plans to teach Islamic theology at German public universities were welcomed Monday by key education bodies.

The move would allow imams and schoolteachers who guide religion classes to obtain the same academic degrees as Christian and Jewish theologians. It would also promote the study of Islamic scripture and history using academic methods, with the state footing the bill.

The recommendation, the result of two years of research and debate, comes from the German Council of Science and Studies.

Council chairman Peter Strohschneider said in Berlin Monday that two to three universities should set up Islamic theology departments, with each estimated to cost 1.5 million euros (2.1 million dollars) annually to run.

He conceded the nub issue would be governance, which has often been a conflict area for the other religions' theology faculties.

The Christian and Jewish communities object to mavericks or non-believers training their clergy, while universities resent pressure from outside, especially from uneducated people, to fire staff.

Strohschneider said the communities could appoint 'theologically qualified' persons onto joint academic advisory boards to advise on whether proposed academic staff were orthodox in their beliefs.

German Education Minister Annette Schavan said the federal government was likely to contribute start-up money. She and Strohschneider said some universities had already inquired whether they could join the programme.

Germany is home to 4 million Muslims, the majority being ethnic Turks, out of a total population of 80 million.

Analysts said Germany has decided to give Islam a place in its universities after realising that fundamentalist groups could otherwise seize control of clergy training and spread radicalism.

A secular Turkish association, the Turkish Community in Germany, welcomed the move as a sign that Muslims were becoming integrated. Chairman Kenan Kolat said the academic independence of the departments would be vital.

German teacher unions also welcomed the plans. One union, the GEW, said it was likely Germany would need 5,000 schoolteachers versed in Islam to teach religion to Muslim children at public schools.

In parts of the Islamic world, theology using western methods has been viewed with suspicion or has been dubbed 'Euro-Islam.'