Love, friendship, sexuality. Theological "Approaches"

On November 28, 2018, a theological study day for high school students took place for the second time, in which up to 140 students from five different schools (Friedrich-List-Schule, Max-Eyth-Schule, Engelsburg-Gymnasium in Kassel, Bergschule in Heiligenstadt, Rabanus-Maurus-Schule in Fulda) took part, got a taste of university life and were able to exchange ideas on a current theological topic.

Love, friendship, sexuality. Theological "Approaches" was the title of the study day. A central biblical theme was chosen for the study day, which is also a fundamentally human one. Together, experiences of successful and failing, joyful and hurtful relationships of love and friendship were theologically reflected upon. Central questions were posed from different perspectives, i.e. from different theological disciplines: What significance does this topic have for people today? How can we interpret, understand, reflect on and shape this topic, i.e. the forms of friendship and love that we have experienced ourselves, found in Christian sources or that exist in contemporary society, from a Christian perspective?

The study day began with a lecture by Professor of the Old Testament, Prof. Dr. Ilse Müllner, entitled "Love is as strong as death" (Song of Songs 8:6) Love, desire and sexuality in the Old Testament". An impressive overview was given of the controversial and diverse ways in which this topic was dealt with in various biblical books. Many stories in Genesis and the books of Samuel (Jacob and Rachel, David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi) deal with love and friendship, with happy and dramatic relationships. The texts of the Song of Songs were presented, a collection of tender, sometimes explicitly erotic love songs in which the searching and finding, the longing and mutual praise of two lovers is described. In addition to dealing with polygamy, which was taken for granted in the ancient Near East, and with the institution of marriage, which is primarily to be thought of as an institution of provision, texts were also addressed that deal with the destructive aspects of sexuality, such as sexualized violence (Bathsheba and David). Above all, we can learn from the Old Testament a great openness in dealing with the topics of love, desire and sexuality, in which physicality is an area that, like other areas of everyday life, is a place of a lived relationship with God. This was followed by an interesting time for questions and discussion.

The pupils then had the opportunity to attend two consecutive workshops in which two topics were explored in greater depth. Nine different workshops on the diverse points of contact offered by the topic were prepared and conducted by research assistants, students and trainee teachers:

W1 Self-love - love of neighbor - love of God. What's your balance?

W2 In Love with Alexa®: Virtual love in the year 2025

W3 Expectations of love and friendship. Is there someone who understands my heart?

W4 Aristotle meets Spongebob. Friendship in the past & today

W5 Prostitution: bought love?!

W6 "But greater than all is love". Same-sex love and the Catholic Church (using the example of the Wucherpfennig case)

W7 #MeToo: What does sexualized violence have to do with the Bible?

W8 Let's try it again: Media, power and relationship games

W9 Theology intensive: Forbidden love - the church and celibacy

The study day is part of the interdisciplinary research project PRONET as part of the joint quality offensive for teacher training by the federal and state governments. The learning situations for pupils offered here were characterized by an interdisciplinary approach in which the current theologically and socially relevant topic of friendship, love and sexuality was considered and reflected upon from different theological disciplines and scientific perspectives. In addition, the testing of teaching situations by students and trainee teachers as part of the self-guided workshops with pupils was a great gain in competence with a view to their future professional practice.

The theological study day for pupils is the result of a cooperation between trainers for the second phase of teacher training (Ms. Strecha and Dr. Müller) and lecturers from the University of Kassel (Dr. Bertram, Mr. Sola Requena, Mr. Schlehahn, Prof. Annegret Reese-Schnitker). This year, the study day was also linked with a cooperation seminar by our colleague Prof. Dr. Markus Tomberg and theology students from the University of Marburg.