Comparative Theology in Iran
Comparative Theology in Iran (February 2026-January 2029)
This project aims to establish, introduce, and promote Comparative Theology within the Iranian academic context through a coordinated program of research, translation, and teaching. In recent years, Comparative Theology has gained increasing recognition within the German-speaking academic world as a distinct theological discipline with its own conceptual framework and methodological rigor. In particular, the work of Klaus von Stosch has played a decisive role in shaping Comparative Theology as a reflective, text-centered, and dialogical approach that moves beyond traditional models of comparative religion or interreligious dialogue.
In the Iranian academic context, however, Comparative Theology remains largely unknown as an independent field of study. This absence is striking, given Iran’s long and sophisticated tradition of interreligious engagement, especially within Islamic theology, Qur’anic studies, and the philosophy of religion. While Muslim scholars have historically engaged deeply with Jewish and Christian texts and ideas, such engagements have rarely been framed within a systematic comparative-theological methodology. As a result, there is currently a conceptual and pedagogical gap between Iran’s rich intellectual heritage and contemporary developments in global theological scholarship.
Over a period of three years, this project seeks to address this gap through three interconnected objectives. First, it will develop Persian-language teaching materials based on key works in Comparative Theology, adapted to the intellectual background and academic needs of Iranian students and scholars. These materials will introduce the theoretical foundations, methodological principles, and practical applications of Comparative Theology, with particular attention to its relevance for Islamic theology.
Second, the project will include the Persian translation of selected major works by Klaus von Stosch, most notably Comparative Theology (UTB) and Mary in the Qur’an. These translations aim not only to make foundational texts accessible to a Persian-speaking audience, but also to stimulate scholarly discussion on shared theological themes, such as revelation, prophecy, and figures of religious significance across traditions.
Third, the research and translation activities will be complemented by a series of academic workshops and seminars held at universities and theological institutions in Iran. These workshops will function as collaborative spaces for discussion, critical engagement, and experimentation with comparative-theological methods. Participants will be encouraged to apply these methods to Islamic, Christian, and Jewish texts, thereby contributing to the development of original comparative-theological research rooted in the Iranian academic context.
The long-term goal of the project is to foster an organic and sustainable integration of Comparative Theology into Iranian theological and religious-studies curricula. Rather than importing a foreign academic model wholesale, the project aims to cultivate a locally grounded form of Comparative Theology that remains critically engaged, methodologically rigorous, and responsive to the intellectual traditions and questions of Iranian scholarship. In doing so, the project seeks to contribute both to the diversification of theological studies in Iran and to broader international conversations in Comparative Theology.
