Bernd-Christian Otto

Bernd-Christian Otto is a Research Fellow at the Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies, University of Erfurt. He joined the centre in 2014 as part of the research group 'Religious Individualisation in Historical Perspective' and held a KHK Visiting Research Fellowship (2018–2019) for the project 'Mapping Modern Magic(k)'.

• Education:
  • Habilitation, Religious Studies, University of Erfurt (2017)
  • Ph.D., Religious Studies, University of Heidelberg (2009)
  • M.A., Religious Studies (major), Philosophy and Psychology (minors), University of Heidelberg (2003)

His research focuses on ritual dynamics, magic, esotericism, and religious deviance, situating these topics within broader frameworks of European religious history and 'Othering'-dynamics. He has contributed to interdisciplinary projects such as Defining Magic. A Reader and explored historical dimensions of 'Western learned magic' through his habilitation treatise.

Scientific awards include the KHK Fellowship (2018–2019). He has also served as a permanent board member of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism and held memberships in prominent academic societies, including the Deutsche Vereinigung für Religionswissenschaft and the International Association for the History of Religions.