Key texts for the study of Catholic Theology/Religious Education
1. The Holy Scriptures
in the Standard Translation The revised Standard Translation of 2016 is the official
Bible translation of the Catholic Church in German-speaking countries. Recommended for purchase
: new €9.90. Also recommended: a concordance (= index of keywords
for the Bible) and a synopsis (comparison of the three Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John).
2. Reference works
2.1. For Systematic Theology:
LThK3: Encyclopaedia of Theology and the Church, 3rd edition (edited by Walter Kasper with Konrad
Baumgartner, Horst Bürkle, Klaus Ganzer et al.), 11 vols., Freiburg: Herder 1993–2001);
purchase: second-hand from €80, new special hardback edition for €148 from the publisher:
Theodor Schneider, Handbook of Dogmatics, 2 vols, 20227.
Margit Eckholt, Gregor Etzelmüller, Andreas Kubik-Boltres, Sabine Pemsel-Maier,
Christopher Zarnow (eds.): Dogmatics in Education. A Handbook for
Religious Education Teachers 2025.
2.2. For Biblical Theology:
WiBiLex: The Academic Bible Encyclopaedia on the Internet (founded in 2007 by Klaus Koenen,
edited by Michaela Bauks, Michael Pietsch and Stefan Alkier) – free of charge: https://
www.bibelwissenschaft.de/wibilex
perikopen.de: Exegetical and theological commentary. (Institute for the Promotion of
Doctrine of the Faith (Foundation), Thomas Schumacher) Free of charge:
perikopen.html#Start
2.3. For religious education:
WiReLex: Online Encyclopaedia of Religious Education (edited since 2015
Heike Lindner and Mirjam Zimmermann) free of charge:
2.4. For interfaith dialogue:
Martin Affolderbach, Naime Çakır-Mattner, Volker Meißner, Hamideh Mohagheghi, Andreas
Renz (eds.), Handbook of Christian-Islamic Dialogue (since 2014) – free of charge: https://
handbuch-cid.de/
Jan Woppowa, Barbara Schmitz, Christian Rutishauser: Jewish-Christian Dialogue. A
Study Handbook for Teaching and Practice. UTB 2024 (€39)
3. Portals for researching specialist literature (monographs, essays, journal articles):
3.1. Research portal for theology:
Index Theologicus: International Bibliography for Theology and Religious Studies
3.2. Search portal for education/religious education:
3.2.1. FIS Bildung: Literature database; currently contains 1,056,271 records (including
monographs, anthologies and journal articles).
3.2.2. Educational research databases
3.2.3. Research collections on educational research
4. Recommended teaching materials
Institute for Religious Education of the Archdiocese of Freiburg (IRP Freiburg):
·
theology and religious education
·
and religious education
·
publications, practical examples and resources
1) SoPäd KTH 09 – Exam content:
3 seminars on key topics in theology and/or religious education
as well as, where applicable and by arrangement, content from the ISP accompanying seminar
2) Sek I KTH 06 – Examination content :
2 seminars on key topics in theology and/or religious education
as well as a literature review
3) GS KTH 13 – Examination content :
2 seminars on key topics in theology and/or religious education
as well as, where applicable and by arrangement, content from the ISP accompanying seminar
Notes:
Students may, in some cases, influence the
examination board. All topics must be agreed in advance with the
examiners.
The examination content will be assessed in equal proportions.
Content from the literature review (KTH 06, 06M) will be assessed by arrangement
.
1) SoPäd KTH 06M – Exam content:
2 seminars on key topics in theology and/or religious education
as well as a literature review
2) Sek I KTH 14 – Examination content:
1 seminar in Church History or Systematic Theology
1 seminar on the Old Testament or New Testament
1 seminar on the planning and analysis of religious education
3) GS KTH 18 – Examination content:
1 seminar on a subject relating to religious education
1 research workshop report
Notes:
Students can, to some extent, influence the
examination board. All topics must be agreed in advance with the
examiners.
The examination content will be assessed in equal proportions.
Content from the literature review (KTH 06, 06M) will be assessed by arrangement
.
Name: Biblical Theology in the Context of Religious Education
Module scope: 9 LP, 1 lecture (2 SWS, 2 LP), 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 3 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Term paper , 1 LP (unmarked)
Registration for the examination: Registration for the module examination takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: 15 September 2026
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the module is taken.
Title: Planning and Analysis of Religious Education in Heterogeneous Learning Groups
Module scope: 6 LP, 1 seminar (2 SWS, 3 LP), 1 seminar (1 SWS, 2 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Term paper , 1 credit (unmarked)
Registration for the examination: Registration for the module examination takes place centrally via
Submission of the assignment: 15 September 2026
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the module is taken.
Name: Theological Argumentation
Module scope: 9 LP, 1 lecture (2 SWS, 2 LP), 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 3 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Term paper , 1 LP (graded)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: 15 September 2026
Further details can be found in the courses in which the module is taken.
Name: Specialisation in Subject-Specific Studies and Religious Education (including placement supervision)
Module scope: 10 LP, 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 3 LP), [1 ISP support seminar (2 SWS, 3 LP)]
Module coordinator
Examination format: Oral examination (20 mins), 1 LP (graded)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: by arrangement during the examination week
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the assessment is undertaken.
Name: Biblical Theology in the Context of Religious Education
Module scope: 9 LP, 1 lecture (2 SWS, 2 LP), 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 3 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Term paper , 1 LP (unmarked)
Registration for the examination: Registration for the module examination takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: 15 September 2026
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the module is taken.
Name: Theological Argumentation
Module scope: 7 LP, 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 3 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Oral examination (20 mins), 1 credit (unmarked)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: by arrangement during the examination week
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the module is taken.
Summer term only!
Name: Theology and Heterogeneity
Module credit value: 9 LP (of which subject didactics: 3 LP), 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 3 LP), 1 lecture (2 SWS, 2 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: written assignment, 1 LP (unmarked)
Registration for the examination: Registration for the module examination takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: 15 September 2026
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the assessment is undertaken.
Winter term only!
Name: Specialisation in subject-specific and religious education from a historical perspective
Module credit value: 12 LP (of which subject didactics: 4 LP), 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 4 LP), literature review (1 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Term paper , 3 LP (graded)
Registration for the examination: Registration for the module examination takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: 15 March 2027
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the assessment is undertaken.
Summer term only!
Name: Specialisation in Theological Studies and Religious Education from a Systematic Theological Perspective
Module credit value: 10 LP (of which subject didactics: 4 LP), 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 4 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Portfolio , 2 LP (graded)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: 15 September 2026
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the assessment is undertaken.
Name: Specialisation in Subject-Specific Knowledge and Religious Education
Module scope: 10 LP (of which 1 LP is subject didactics), 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 4 LP), literature review with a focus on subject didactics (1 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Oral examination (20 mins), 1 LP (graded)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: by arrangement during the examination week
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the assessment is undertaken.
Name: Biblical Theology in the Context of Religious Education
Module scope: 9 LP, 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 3 LP) 1 lecture (2 SWS, 2 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Term paper , 1 LP (unmarked)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission deadline for the assignment: 15 September 2026
Further details can be found in the courses in which the module is taken.
Name: Core Teaching Skills (Planning and Analysing Religious Education Lessons in Diverse Learning Groups)
Module scope: 7 LP, 1 seminar (2 SWS, 4 LP), 1 seminar (1 SWS, 2 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Term paper, 1 LP ( unmarked)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the assignment: 15 September 2026
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the module is taken.
Name: Theological Reflections on Heterogeneity (including placement supervision)
Module scope: 12 LP, 2 seminars (2 SWS each, 3 LP), 1 lecture (2 SWS, 2 LP), [1 ISP support seminar (2 SWS, 3 LP)]
Module coordinator
Examination format: Oral examination (20 mins), 1 credit ( graded)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: by arrangement during the examination week
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the assessment is undertaken.
Name: Specialisation in a Specific Subject Area
Module scope: 7 LP, 1 seminar (2 SWS, 4 LP), literature review (1 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Term paper, 2 LP ( graded)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: 15 September 2026
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the module is taken.
Name: Subject-specific development and pedagogical guidance for religious education
Module scope: 6 LP, 1 seminar (2 SWS, 4 LP), 1 research workshop (1 SWS, 1 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Oral examination (20 mins), 1 LP ( graded)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: by arrangement during the examination week
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the assessment is undertaken.
Name: Reflection on Teaching Practice Based on Subject-Specific Knowledge
Module scope: 12 LP ( of which subject didactics: 5 LP), 1 seminar with a project or practical component (2 SWS, 6 LP), 1 seminar (2 SWS, 4 LP)
Module coordinator
Examination format: Term paper , 2 LP ( graded)
Exam registration: Registration for the module exam takes place centrally via
Submission of the examination paper: 15 September 2026
Further details will be provided in the courses in which the module is taken.