Kinzig Wolfram

This chapter describes, first, the present situation of Christianity within global society in relation to other major religions. Furthermore, it describes the historical process of the globalization of Christianity since its origins and Christianity’s limited awareness of other religions. It is suggested that in Christianity, “global turn” primarily means a change in religious perception in the early twentieth century. Subsequently, in the wake of the ecumenical movement and of the Holocaust, the Western churches and their theologians began thoroughly to reassess their views of foreign peoples and cultures such that in much of Christian theology nowadays a great openness in dealing with other faiths can be found. Finally, this chapter discusses a number of academic challenges which theology and the study of the Christian religion are facing in the age of globality.

Houston Stewart Chamberlain, the „Evangelist of Racism“, had a major influence on German Emperor Wilhelm II, especially in forming his nationalistic and anti-Semitic views. The monarch and the author developed a mutual understanding and appreciation that lasted over 25 years. This article illuminates the circumstances of their initial acquaintance through the edition and analysis of two documents which were two hitherto unpublished documents: Chamberlain's diary for the dates 28.–31. 10. 1901 and a letter to his aunt Anne Guthrie of 11. 11. 1901. Both documents are compared to other known reports of this meeting.Chamberlain accepted Wilhelm's invitation to Germany where they met in Liebenberg in 1901 in a circle of select members of the German aristocracy. Their first contact is reconstructed here showing the extent to which Wilhelm's thoughts coincided with those of Chamberlain. The author concludes that the meeting with Chamberlain in 1901 was most decisive in the development of Wilhelm's own thinking and had serious consequences for the later course of historical events. In addition, this first meeting is particularly interesting because of the participation of Adolf Harnack who was at that time very close to the Emperor and also corresponded with Chamberlain. The differences in character and views between Chamberlain, Wilhelm and Harnack also surfaced during this memorable meeting.