Otto Stegmüller

Otto Stegmüller (born April 2, 1906 in Wintersdorf , Rastatt ; † February 9, 1970 in Freiburg im Breisgau ) was a German priest and professor of apologetics (later: fundamental theology ), religious studies and history of religion .

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He passed his Abitur in 1925 at the Rastatt Konvikt, of which he later became director, and then studied theology in Freiburg im Breisgau and Münster . After his primary school in 1930, he worked as a chaplain in Triberg and Mannheim .

As early as 1930 he began his scientific career in Freiburg im Breisgau. In line with his inclination towards classical philology ( linguistics ), Otto Stegmüller began to study Latin , Greek and papyrus studies in addition to his work as prefect in Freiburg im Breisgau . These studies led him from 1934 to 1938 to Berlin , where he this 1938 at the former Humboldt University with the graduation to the Dr. phil. completed. In recognition of his excellent knowledge of papyrus studies, the General Assembly of the Berlin State Museums commissioned him to edit the Christian papyri in Berlin. After his return from Berlin, Otto Stegmüller was again prefect at the Konvikt in Freiburg. During this time he devoted himself to intensive studies of Hellenism and patrology , which resulted in a doctorate in Dr. theol. in Freiburg in 1941. When Otto Stegmüller came to Rastatt as rector of the Konvikt in 1942 , it was being misused as a hospital. When the grammar schools could later be resumed, he himself helped to repair the battered building and to get food for the youth in those days of hunger. Until 1947 he was rector of the Konvikt in Rastatt. After his habilitation in 1949, he worked as a sub-regens and professor at the seminary in St. Peter and from June 7, 1959 as a lecturer at the theological faculty of the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg . In 1954 Otto Stegmüller was appointed full professor of apologetics (founding faith and defense of Christianity; the subject is now called fundamental theology) and religious studies . From 1962 he held the newly established chair for the history of religion , the only one of its kind at a Catholic theological faculty in Germany.

His activity was by no means limited to the history of Christian religion. He researched religious behavior among peoples, such as Buddhism , Hinduism and Confucianism . His scientific contributions in this field were recognized throughout the scientific world. For many years his research focused on the central question: What is religion and what is religious? Otto Stegmüller recognized the value and importance of non-Christian religions long before the Second Vatican Council found similar statements in its "Declaration on Non-Christian Religions". With great intellectual freedom and breadth of thinking, based on precise, rich knowledge, he opened up the greatness and character of the various religions to his students and campaigned for real understanding of sometimes strange ways of thinking and ideas. In addition to excellent specialist knowledge, he was guided by his own empathy, which infallibly revealed to him the true approach of so different religions. Despite his extremely varied, detailed knowledge, which everyone who knew him admired, Professor Stegmüller was a very humble, always helpful and kind man. His generosity and kindness were especially appreciated by those who worked with him in the seminar. Despite his scientific activities, Otto Stegmüller remained a son of his home community. He died after a long illness at the age of 64. In addition to the many residents of his home community, many university colleagues and not least the Archbishop of Freiburg , Hermann Josef Schäufele , showed their appreciation for Otto Stegmüller at the funeral in his home community of Wintersdorf.

Web links

• Literature by and about Otto Stegmüller in the catalog of the German National Library
• Short biography and bibliography