Personal Information

2002

• CURRICULUM VITAE Viggo Mortensen Professor, dr. theol. Chair in Global Christianity and Ecuemnical Concerns Department for Systematic Theology, The Theological Faculty, University of Aarhus, DK 8000 Århus C, Denmark Phone: (+45) 8942 2311 Fax: (+45) Email: vm@teologi.au.dk PERSONAL DETAILS: Born: May 15, 1942 in Herringe, Fyn. Homeaddress: Mageltornvej 14 A, DK 8240 Risskov. Phone: (+45) 8617 1121 EDUCATION: 1960: Graduation: Svendborg Statsgymnasium. Major: Modern languages 1960-61: Military service 1961: Philosphical studies. Filosofikum. University of Copenhagen. 1961-62: Folkhighschool, Askov & Baaring. 1962-69: Theological Studies,University of Aarhus 1969: Teologisk embedseksamen, University of Aarhus (Laud) 1972: Research award. Aarhus Universitets guldmedalje 1988 Doctor of Theology. Dr. theol. APPOINTMENTS: 1962: Teacher. Lærervikar Flensborg skolevæsen 1969-70: Assistant professor. Amanuensisvikar, Kristendomskundskab, AU 1969-73: Seminary teacher. Timelærer Aarhus Seminarium, Religion 1970-84: External Examiner. Beskikket censor ved lærer eksamen 1969: DAAD scholarship, Germany 1970-73: Kandidatstipendium (scholarship), AU 1973-91: Lektor (Associate Professor) Institut for Etik og Religionsfilosofi, AU 1978: Alexander von Humboldt scholarship, Germany 1982-84: Seniorstipendium (research scholarship), AU 1984: Fullbright scholarship, USA 1991-99: Director, The Lutheran World Federation, Department for Theology and Studies, Geneva. 1975 Ordination as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark 1975-77 Pasotral work (ulønnet hjælpepræst) in Hasle diocese, Aarhus 1992-97 Pastor in Geneva mandated by the Danish Church Abroad (DKU) Professor, Department of Systematic Theology, AU 2001- Director, Center for Multireligious Studies, AU SCHOLARLY CAREER During my theological studies I concentrated on the various disciplines within systematic theology and specialized in Ethics and Philosophy of Religion. During my studies I was attracted - under the influence of professors R. Prenter and K.E. Løgstrup - to research, and as I, upon finishing my theological exam, was offered the opportunity of carrying on this research I stayed at the university and had different forms of scholarships and appointments until I was appointed lektor (associate professor, tenure) in 1973. During this time I wrote my, first larger scholarly work, a thesis on Luther and Kierkegaard, awarded with a goldmedal. Main points in my research has been with Luther, Kierkegaard and the philosophy and theology of the 19. and 20 century. Here I have taken up classical problems to new analysis: theodicy (the problem of suffering), faith and knowledge, theology and philosophy, ethical foundations. Later I specialized in science and religion and applied ethics, and I have utilized this in contributions to the ecumenical dialogue and studies for justice, peace and integrity of creation. My habilitation (dr. theol. ) vas awarded for a major work in Science and Religion (2nd. ed. 1989, German edition 1995) and followed by a lively debate documented in a book called "God and Nature" 1990. During my career I have taught in very many settings and I have always tried to carry the theological issues outside the classroom. Through numerous public lectures I have acquired a skill for expressing myself pedagogically. I have had many opportunities of developing my administrative skills. I have several times acted as head of the department for Ethics and Philosophy of Religion; I have during the years been a member of the Faculty Council and have twice (1985 and 1989-91) been appointed dean of Faculty. As head of department and faculty I have been heavily engaged in research administration, and I have a record of initiating things. I was one of the founding fathers of the Danish Science Theology Forum. INTERNATIONAL NETWORK I have a rich international experience. It started with extended periods of study in Germany (Marburg and Munich as DAAD and A.v.Humboldt fellow) and USA (Honorary research fellow at the institute for the advanced study of religion, University of Chicago and visiting scholar at Lutheran School of Theology). This has been followed by a lot of travel and participating in international conferences and other researchactivities. I am a member of several national and international learned societies. Presently I am serving as the Danish board representative in the Nordic network concerning Missiological and Ecumenical Theology (NIME) and I am on the international advisory board of the Journal Zygon. I have visited a number of countries in Africa, Asia and Latinamerica and often worked with local partners. I have lectured and done research in countries such as Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Germany, England, US (Chicago, Stanford, Berkeley, Hawaii), Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. For eight years I was director for a study department in a major international NGO and relief organization, The Lutheran World Federation, Geneva. Working in a leadership team I was responsible for this organizations research and development, working with initiation of study processes in all parts of the world mainly by organizing a number of international conferences in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. 1999 I accepted a call to a redefined chair in Global Christianity and Ecumenical Concerns at the University of Aarhus and in 2001 I was appointed Director for Center for Multireligious Studies, University of Aarhus. PUBLICATIONS A bibliography of more than 45 books and contributions to books. 125 articles to scholarly journals and others 600 review articles and contributions to newspapers. Major publications Luther og Kierkegaard. Kierkegaardiana IX. København 1974 Lidelsens problem. Gyldendal 1976 Tro og Virkelighed. Gyldendal 1978 Teologi og Kritik. Gyldendal 1983 Kristendommen og spørgsmålet om livets mening.(Red) København1983 Teologi og Naturvidenskab. Hinsides restriktion og ekspansion. DISPUTATS. 1989. 2. Oplag 1989. Tysk udgave 1995 Gud og Naturen. Kan der etableres en dialog mellem teologi og naturvidenskab. 1990. Gør Livet Fri. Om Skaberværkets Ukrænkelighed. 1990 Alting af Kærlighed sødes. Om kærlighedens epik, poetik og logik. l992. Teologi i Århus. l942 - l992. 1992 (Red) Justification and Justice. LWF l992. A Just Europe. The Churches response to the ethical implications of the new Europe Krieg, Konfession, Konziliarität. Was heisst "gerechter Krieg" in CA XVI heute? Red. A Just Africa. Ethics and the Economy. LWF Studies. Geneva l994. Red. Region & Religion. Land, Territory and Nation from a Theological Perspective. Red. Life and Death. Moral implications of Biotechnology.WCC Publications Geneva l995 Concern for Creation. Voices on Theology of Creation. Uppsala 1995. Red. Dansk Kirke i Schweiz. 1947-1997. (Red.) Geneve 1997 A Just Asia. The Challenge of a Globalised Economy. Geneva 1998. Red. Gud er det andet sted. Om kirken i verden. København 1998. . Globaliseringen som udfordring til missionsteologi og økumenisk teologi.1999. Gobalization: A Challenge to theology and the church. In Wolfgang Grieve (ed.): Justification in the World`s Contexts. Geneve 2000 Det globale og multireligiøse. Teologiske udfordringer. Occasional Papers 1. Center for Multireligiøse Studier, Aarhus Universitet 2001. Århus 2001. The Charismatic Movement and the Churches (Editor).Occassional Papers 2. Center for Multireligiøse Studier. Aarhus Universitet. Århus 2001 Den danske Folkekirke og Islam. (Red.). Occassional Papers 3. Center for Multireligous Studies. University of Aarhus. Århus 2001.