Search

[German Version] (May 6, 1901, Hannover – Sep 30, 1978, Düren). Strongly influenced by Lutheran theology, the scholar Gustav Mensching was an independent representative of an “understanding” study of religion ( Religionswissenschaft des Verstehens), as well as a praxis-oriented approach. He was an active supporter of the Liturgical Movement along with his teacher R. Otto. He was appointed professor for the history of religion in Riga (1927) before becoming director of the department of religious studies (1936), and gaining a ch…

[German Version] I. Religious Studies We can speak of care for the poor in the sense of public and private relief of poverty only when there has been a certain degree of institutionalization. Religions have treated poor relief with varying degrees emphasis. It is important to distinguish caregivers (including families, clans, congregations, orders, foundations, societies, and associations), the kind of help given (material, personal, structural), and the recipients (different levels of poverty). The Greeks and Romans felt no obligation to help the poor, or at most a g…