This book documents the current polarization in Germany regarding the issue of refugee
immigration. It presents quantitative estimates for both xenophobia and xenophilia in the
German population including short-time changes. The book suggests a conceptual change of
perspectives. It focuses not only on the pathogenic model that accounts for outcomes such as
xenophobia Islamophobia and other forms of (inter-religious) prejudice but on a salutogenic
model. In the book's view the salutogenic model entails xenosophia: the wisdom creativity and
inspiration that emerges from the encounter with the strange and the strange religion. The book
addresses individual dispositions which may lead to xenophobia or xenosophia and takes into
account predictors such as religiosity religious schemata value preferences tolerance of
complexity and violence legitimizing norms of masculinity. A selection of case studies present
typical biographical trajectories toward xenosophia.
