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Society and Religion

Society and Religion

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In terms of the state, the liberal order needs a unifying ethos, a kind of ‘public spirit’, among those who live in this state. The question is then: Where does this ethos come from, which can neither be enforced by the state nor imposed by sovereignty? One could say: first of all, from the lived culture. But what the factors and elements underpinning this culture? There we are indeed with sources like Christianity, Enlightenment and Humanism.

Ernst-Wolfgang Böckenförde, Philosopher of law, political and administrative scientist

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Social Changes and Cohesion

German society is becoming more diverse. With German unity, a country divided for 40 years has been and continues to be brought together since 1989. European integration, advancing digitalisation and the energy revolution are permanently changing working and everyday life in Germany. Migrants are becoming Germans, and religious diversity as well as the number of life and family models are rising. At the same time, the urban-rural and young-old ratio is changing.

Diversity also increases the need for stabilising coexistence through binding rules, however. That is often more successful than expected, but sometimes fails due to different demands and interests. Cracks are emerging in some areas of the social fabric. To ensure that these cracks do not deepen, social changes must be shaped politically. To achieve this, politics needs interdisciplinary analysis and consultation. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung responds to this need with socio-political analyses, discussions and advice. Its socio-political work focuses on children, youth and family, demographic change, migration, integration and equal rights.

 

Religious Diversity and Secularisation

But the topics of religious influence, religious diversity and religious policy are evidently subject to processes of change, too. The Christian churches are continuously losing members both in Germany and Europe. The number of non-denominational people continues to rise; a general trend towards secularisation is becoming clear to many. Yet, religion is not disappearing from the state and society, rather its role is changing. That is more visible in the global context than the European one. 84 per cent of the global population feel they belong to a religious community and, by their own account, believe in God or a higher power – and the trend is rising.

The significance of religious convictions for social cohesion and the search for orientation still seems to be relevant, even if the ambivalent character of religion is increasingly perceived – as a meaningful motivation on the one hand, and as a source of conflict, on the other. The relevance of religion in today’s societies as well as in national and international politics, is reflected in various thematic fields and policy areas. This includes the discussion on religious education, the organisation of Jewish and Muslim life in Germany and the safeguarding of religious liberties worldwide. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s religious policy work focuses on a commitment to religious freedom in particular.


Discussion Forums and Publication Projects

Below you will find discussion forums and multi-party publication projects on current religious and socio-political issues. The main emphasis should be placed on the two discussion forums dealing with questions of religious policy.

Expert Initiative Religious Policy

Experteninitiative Religionspolitik Logo

 

The Expert Initiative Religious Policy (EIR) is an academic-political forum for discussion on religious policy issues. The EIR blog provides a knowledge forum and debate platform on current events and developments in constitutional law, German politics and the emerging common European constitutional space. Based on various expert opinions, the blog makes proposals on how to further develop the religious legal system within the meaning of freedom of religion and ideology.

 

Learn more about the Expert Initiative Religious Policy

Discussion Forum “kreuz-und-quer.de”

kreuz-und-quer-Diskussionsforum Logo

 

The blog “kreuz-und-quer.de” sees itself as a discussion forum for political action out of Christian duty. The blog articles are deliberately diverse: They ask, for instance, how the church and politics intend to deal with the most important problems of our time. While also asking us what conclusions we draw from this.

 

Learn more about the blog “kreuz-und-quer.de”

Contributions to the Debate on Assisted Suicide as an Act of Business

Blick in einen Tunnel

 

After the German Constitutional Court declared § 217 of the German Penal Code (StGB), which criminalised the commercial promotion of suicide, to be null and void in February 2020, politics and society now face the question on how to deal with wishes to die and assisted suicide. Read our contributions to the debate on the topic of commercial assisted suicide.

 

Learn more about the contributions to the debate on assisted suicide


 

Event Series and Seminars

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung offers different event formats of socio-political relevance, aimed at various targets groups. While the Youth Policy Days and the denkt@g competition represent a specific offer for youth and young adults, the Women’s Council aims to explicitly promote women with targeted nationwide formats, so as to increase their presence and visibility in politics, business and society.

DenkTag and denkt@g Competition

Titelbild DenkTag 2024

 

For many years, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has used the official day of remembrance for victims of National Socialism as an occasion for nationwide projects and events. As part of this so-called “DenkTag event series”, talks with contemporary witnesses, lecture events, readings and exhibitions are held on all matters relating to 27 January in numerous federal states.

Every two years, the nationwide internet youth competition “denkt@tag” also takes place under the patronage of the former President of the Germany Bundestag Dr Norbert Lammert.

 

Find out more about the DenkTag

Learn more about the the denkt@g competition

ChancenZeit – together for society

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ChancenZeit – together for society

Street survey for the social year
(only in German)

YouTube, onlinekas

Since the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022, there has been renewed discussion in Germany about compulsory service. At its 35th federal party congress in September, the CDU decided to advocate for the introduction of a compulsory “social year”. However, the implementation of the project of such a compulsory period of service to the state and society faces a number of objections and concerns.

A stronger emphasis on benefits and opportunities for the individual and a more flexible time frame could remedy the situation. That is why the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is organising events on this topic throughout Germany under the motto “ChancenZeit – geMEINsam für Gesellschaft”. We would like to discuss pro and con arguments at eye level with all participants and also model alternative proposals.

 

Learn more about ChancenZeit

JugendpolitikTage (Youth Politics Days)

Jugendpolitiktag KAS

 

Since 2007, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has been organising JugendpolitikTage several times a year, where young adults can obtain information about current social and political issues, discuss them and exchange ideas. The various workshops are specially adapted to the needs of young people. In the form of films, comics, newspaper articles, plays, dance choreographies, drawings and self-written narratives, the participants can explore various topics.

 

Learn more about the JugendpolitikTage

Women’s Council

Michaela Peisger, Head of Finance Germany der KPMG AG, Berlin (im Bild rechts). KAS / Stefan Stahlberg

 

Women continue to be under-represented in politics, business and society. For this reason, with the Women’s Council, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung provides a nationwide seminar programme just for women. With our multifaceted events, we would like to embolden women to position themselves well and take responsibility.

 

Learn more about the Women’s Council


 

Podcasts and Video Series

Some of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s podcasts and video series are devoted to relevant aspects of socio-political issues such as social diversity or Jewish life in Germany.

Future Women

Visual Zukunftsfrauen Podcast

 

In the podcast “Future Women", women have something to say about their social commitment and associated experience. In the discussion, they report on their personal journey, their own trajectory and the challenges and difficulties facing them on the path towards greater co-determination and the realisation of their own visions and specific goals.

 

Learn more about the podcast “Future Women”

Aftertaste – Jewish Everyday Life in Germany

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Aftertaste – Jewish Everyday Life in Germany, Trailer

(only in German)

YouTube, Onlinekas

What does everyday life for Jews in Germany really look like today? On the occasion of the anniversary “1700 years of Jewish life in Germany”, we have issued the video series “Aftertaste – Jewish everyday life in Germany”. Britta Herres, who is on her voluntary social year, embarks on a journey through the republic to talk to different people of Jewish origin.

 

See all episodes of our video series

Britta’s Hanukkah Week

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Britta’s Hanukkah Week

(only in German)

YouTube, Onlinekas

We sent Britta Herres, who is on a voluntary social year with us, on a little journey. Together with Leni, a young woman who has decided to become a rabbi, she explores Berlin. What motivated Leni to take up rabbinical studies? What is it like to celebrate holidays in Berlin? And where does the origin of the Hanukkah festival actually lie? More on this can be found in our video series “Britta’s Hanukkah Week”.

 

See all episodes of our video series on YouTube.


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kurzum
Adobe Stock / TungCheung
May 4, 2023
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Monitor
Adobe Stock / VectorMine
May 2, 2023
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kurzum
Fotocollage mit Material des Koalitionsvertrags & Duke.Box / flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0 / creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
December 10, 2021
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Publications to the topic

Zukünftiges Altersheim - drei ältere Männer mit VR-Headset Adobe Stock / Dr.Söd

The digital divide in society

Results from a representative survey on artificial intelligence

Das Rentenpaket II Illustration Adobe Stock / Marco2811

Das Rentenpaket II

Mehrbelastung statt Generationengerechtigkeit

Zur (Un-)Sichtbarkeit der (Zwangs-)Prostitution in der Strafrechtspflege bluedesign stock.adobe.com

The (in)visibility of (forced) prostitution in the criminal justice system

Is a Prohibition to buy sex a solution?

kleines Cannabispäckchen adobe stock / H_Ko

Health and psychosocial effects of the legalisation and commercialisation of cannabis

Cannabis legalization at the expense of children and young people

Online, offline oder beides? Umfragemethoden im Praxistest Collage: Stafeeva, stock.adobe.com (people); KAS

Online, offline or both?

Practical test of survey methods – which survey method delivers trustworthy, representative results?

Platzhalter_weißschwarz_zpgrk

Interview: „Es herrschen Unsicherheit und Unverständnis“

Anna Staroselski über jüdisches Leben in Deutschland nach dem Terrorangriff der Hamas auf Israel

Platzhalter_grauschwarz_nggn

Der Sinnfrage die Sinnfrage stellen

Was haben „New Work“ und Klimakrise miteinander zu tun?

Ukranian nuns IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Ukraine policy in Rome

Italy top, Vatican flop?

Holocaust und Erinnerungskultur in der Ukraine

Entwicklungen und Initiativen seit der Unabhängigkeit

zerstörte Kirche in Kaduna IMAGO / Friedrich Stark

Attacks on Christians in Nigeria

How the raids at Christmas 2023 fit into an existing major conflict over resources in Nigeria

Generation Corona? Jugend und (mentale) Gesundheit

Generation Corona? Youth and (mental) health

The pandemic is drawing attention on pre-existing mental health challenges faced by young people.

"It’s about integration in particular."

Gabriele Baumann talks about Sweden's change in migration policy

Alexander Throm MdB

"I don't see a policy change at the moment."

Alexander Throm (MP) talks about Germany's asylum policy

"Asylum law is not set in stone."

Professor Daniel Thym talks about the legal framework, limits and opportunities in migration policy

Palais des Nations Geneva II

Geneva Barometer

Developments among Geneva-based international organisations from October to December 2023

Українське суспільство, держава і церква під час війни. Церковно-релігійна ситуація в Україні-2023 Центр Разумкова

Українське cуспільство, держава і церква під час війни. Церковно-релігійна ситуація в Україні-2023

MK1

Multireligious Calendar 2024

Hände aufeinander pixabay.com

Christliche Freundschaft

Ihre Bedeutung für das Individuum, Kirche und Gesellschaft

platzhalter09_grauweißZfPGRK DPM

Wer nach oben schaut, weiß, dass er unten ist...

Biblische Randbemerkungen zur Frage nach einem christlichen Menschenbild

platzhalter01_weißNGGN DPM

Viele Himmel

Die politische Herausforderung religiöser Vielfalt

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Events on the topic

Jan

2024

-

Jan

2025

VERANSTALTUNGEN ZUR KOMMUNALPOLITIK
Angebote der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung rund um die Kommunalpolitik.

Mar

2024

-

Apr

2024

Vom Grundsätzlichen zum Praktischen
Online-Reihe zum Grundsatzprogramm der CDU

Mar

2024

Berlin
Die Zukunft Europas
Transformationserfahrungen und Perspektiven Mittelosteuropas

Mar

2024

fully booked
Zwangsverheiratungen: Menschenrechte durchsetzen!
Vortrag mit Diskussion für Soldatinnen und Soldaten der Deutsch-Französischen Brigade

Event Reports on the topic

Event Reports on the topic

240228_Münster

Wie steht's um unsere Rente?

5. Münsteraner Gespräche zum Thema Sicherheit

Das Podium KAS

Kontrovers: Nach dem Migrationsgipfel. Wie kann die Migration begrenzt werden?

"Der ungewöhnlichste Film über den Holocaust"

Zeithistorische Filmreihe: „The Zone of Interest“ in Kooperation mit Leonine Studios

jüdische Gegenstände KAS Bremen

"Antisemitismus ist wie ein Geruch"

Schulveranstaltungen zum Thema Judentum und Antisemitismus

Foto24021302

Klicken, Lernen, Wissen?

Herausforderungen an Gesellschaft und Schule in der digitalen Welt / Eindrücke von der Fuladaer Tagung 13. Februar 2024

Bronze Skulptur KAS Bremen

"Vernichtung durch Arbeit"

Schulexkursion in die Gedenkstätte Hamburg-Neuenngamme

Kas.de

Von Visionen und Veränderungen

Bertram Flecks neue Wege für den ländlichen Aufschwung

Sendker - Levy

"Kein anderes Land": Wo sind Juden wirklich sicher?

Eine Bilanz des 44. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 31.01.2024

Teilnehmende Denkt@g Gruppenbild neu

Eröffnung des Jugendwettbewerbs "denkt@g" 2024

Ein JugendpolitikTag gegen Antisemitismus, Rechtsextremismus und Fremdenfeindlichkeit

Kas.de

„Hinter Kassel beginnt die Walachei“

Debatte zum Buch: „Der Osten – eine westdeutsche Erfindung“

100 Tage Angriff auf Israel

Eine Solidaritätsveranstaltung mit Israel

Hetzschold - Klauser

Weniger Beitragszahler, Fachkräfte und junge Menschen –

Der demographische Wandel als Herausforderung für Wirtschaft und gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt – Eine Bilanz des 43. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 16.11.2023

Kas.de

Trends und Defizite
der kommunalen Migrationspolitik

Bericht zur Fachtagung
"Integration in deutschen Kommunen und Fragen der Migrationsgesellschaft"

Gruppenfoto der Preisträger und Preisträgerinnen. Ulf Dahl/Kieler Nachrichten

" For mind and heart to recognise, understand and learn"

The winners of the German Local Journalism Award 2022 were honoured in Kiel

Die Gedenkstätte Bergen-Belsen wird unter anderem von so vielen Menschen besucht, da die Schwestern Margot und Anne Frank aus Auschwitz nach Bergen-Belsen deportiert wurden und dort auch verstarben. Sie sind allerdings nicht an der Stelle des Gedenksteines begraben, sondern in einem der vielen Massengräber. KAS Bremen

Die Besonderheiten des ehemaligen Konzentrationslagers Bergen-Belsen

Schulexkursionen in die Gedenkstätte Bergen-Belsen

231026 KAS

"Die Geschmeidigen"...

... im Spagat zwischen Versprechen, Erwartungen und Verantwortung

RegioTalk

Herausforderungen des Ehrenamtes müssen gemeinsam bewältigt werden

1. RegioTalk unter der Schirmherrschaft von Catarina dos Santos-Wintz

Wie werden wir zukünftig wohnen?

3. Münsteraner Gespräche zum Thema Sicherheit

Auf dem Podium saßen Dr. Simon Strauß, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Omid Nouripour MdB und Prof. Dr. Susanne Schröter (v.l.n.r.) KAS/Marie-Lisa Noltenius

„Die Mitte muss sich als Vermittler behaupten“

Podiumsdiskussion über Ursachen für und Wege aus der Polarisierung

F.A.Z.-KAS-Debatte 2023 KAS/Sven Moschitz

“Peace is not a natural state”

F.A.Z.-KAS debate

Publications

Media library

Erststimme #85: Peter Tauber
Mutig sein trotz Krisen!
In unserer neuesten Podcast-Episode begrüßen wir Peter Tauber, der sich in seinem neuen Buch mit einem essenziellen Thema auseinandersetzt: dem Mut.
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Erststimme #84: Rücksicht und Respekt
Rücksicht und Respekt - Mit Stellungnahmen von Herbert Reul und Armin Nassehi
Wir sprechen über das Thema Rücksicht und Respekt u.a. mit dem NRW Innenminister Herbert Reul und dem ehemaligen KAS Fellow Prof. Armin Nassehi.
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Erststimme #83: Pastor Christof Rau
Weihnachten in der (ost-)deutschen Diaspora
Wir sprechen zu Weihnachten mit Pastor Christof Rau über das Weihnachtsfest, über Bräuche und Rituale und den Kern von Weihnachten.
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pexels
ÜberLeben in Afghanistan
3 Fragen an Dr. Ellinor Zeino, Leiterin der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Usbekistan
Afghanistan nach der Machtübernahme der Taliban
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Podcast Erststimme #82
Tag des Ehrenamts
🎤Today is Volunteer Day! We talk to Andrea Milz, State Secretary for Sport and Volunteering in NRW, about the role of volunteers in our coexistence.
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Extremism
No relativisation! Hamas is an extremist terrorist organisation.
The reality is clear: the Hamas charter made it clear as early as 1988 that Israel's right to exist was denied and that armed jihad was being pursued.
Erststimme #80: Philipp Austermann
Gefährdung der Demokratie
Pünktlich zum 9. November nehmen wir die Gelegenheit wahr mit Prof. Philipp Austermann innezuhalten und uns über den heutigen Zustand unserer Demokratie auszutauschen.
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Auslandsinfo Spotlight Podcast
Caesura in the Middle East: Hamas' Terror in Israel and its Consequences
A conversation with Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy (Head of KAS Israel Office) and Steven Höfner (Head of KAS Ramallah Office).
Erststimme #76: Christina Schulze-Föcking
Kinderschutz
Wir sprechen mit Christina Schulze-Föcking, MdL über die Frage: Wie können wir Kinder vor Gefahren schützen und ihnen eine sichere Zukunft gewährleisten?
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Reden wir über Familie – Der Feierabendtalk
Facebook Live - Vater sein heute - Identität, Rollenbilder und Klischees
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