Current tendencies in religious studies and theology show a growing interest for the
interchange between religions and the cultures of rationalization surrounding them. The studies
published in this volume based on the international conferences of both the
Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and the Israel Academy of Sciences and
Humanities aim to contribute to this field of interest by dealing with concepts and influences
of rationalization in Judaism Christianity Islam and religion in general. In addition to
taking a closer look at the immediate links in the history of tradition between those
rationalizing movements and evolutions in religion emphasis is put on intellectual-historical
convergences: Therefore the articles are led by central comparative questions such as what
factors foster hinder rationalization? where are criteria for rationalization drawn from? in
which institutions is rationalization taking place? who propagates supports and utilizes
rationalization?
