Jörg Rüpke

Prof. Dr. Jörg Rüpke serves as Vice Director of the Max-Weber-Kolleg (Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies) at the University of Erfurt, where he holds the Professorship for Comparative Religious Studies within the Faculty of Philosophy. His academic work focuses on the intersection of religion, urban environments, and historical development, particularly in ancient contexts.

• Vice Director, Max-Weber-Kolleg
• Professor of Comparative Religious Studies
• Member, Research Group 'Religion and Urbanity: Reciprocal Formations'
• Subproject Leader, SFB 294 'Structural Change of Property'
• Head, International Graduate School 'Resonant Self-World Relations'

Rüpke's research centers on ancient religions, particularly Roman religion, with a distinctive focus on 'lived religion' as an approach that moves beyond traditional institutional frameworks. His work examines how religious practices and experiences manifest in everyday life, particularly within urban environments. He has pioneered research on religious individualization in historical perspective and the complex relationship between religion and urban development throughout history. His methodological approach combines historical, archaeological, and sociological perspectives to understand religious phenomena in their full cultural context.

His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on urban religious dynamics, ancient religious practices, and the historical development of religious concepts. Rather than treating religion as a separate institutional sphere, Rüpke examines how religious elements permeate all aspects of social life, particularly in urban settings. His work on 'lived ancient religion' has significantly influenced the field by shifting attention from official cults to individual religious experiences and practices.

• ERC Grant for 'Lived Ancient Religion: Questioning Cults and polis Religion' (2012-2017)
• Leadership of the Kolleg-Forschergruppe 'Religiöse Individualisierung in historischer Perspektive' (2008-2018)
• Significant contributions to understanding Roman religious practices beyond traditional institutional frameworks
• Development of new methodological approaches for studying historical religious phenomena

Rüpke has secured substantial research funding including an ERC grant and leads multiple collaborative research projects. His work with doctoral students and early career researchers is evident through his leadership of the International Graduate School 'Resonant Self-World Relations in Ancient and Modern Socio-Religious Practices.' He has established important research networks both within Germany and internationally, particularly through his work on urban religion and ancient religious practices.

As Vice Director of the Max-Weber-Kolleg, Rüpke plays a significant role in shaping interdisciplinary research at the University of Erfurt, fostering collaboration between scholars from diverse fields examining cultural and social phenomena through historical and comparative lenses.