Anne Koch

Prof. Dr. Anne Koch is a full professor of Religious Studies at the University of Freiburg’s Faculty of Theology since March 2022. Her research focuses on religion-secular configurations, cognitive science of religion, and religious economics. She holds a habilitation (2007) and PhD (2001) in Philosophy from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Koch has held visiting professorships at Rikkyo University (Tokyo), Sophia University, and the Catholic University of Linz.

Education:

• Habilitation in Religious Studies, LMU Munich (2007)
• PhD in Philosophy, LMU Munich (2001)
• Studies in Philosophy and Catholic Theology in Munich, Paris, and Jerusalem

Research Interests: Her work integrates cognitive science, economics, and cultural studies to analyze embodied cognition, ritual efficacy, and spiritual healing. Key themes include religious aesthetics, economic models of religion, and governance of pluralism in contemporary societies. She has conducted fieldwork on global yoga and Ayurveda practices.

Labs/Teams: Leading the DFG-funded project on material objects in religious education and co-chairing the Religious Aesthetics Working Group at the German Association for Religious Studies. She co-edits the journal Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft and the series Rerum Religionum.

Advising & Grants: Supervises PhDs on topics ranging from secular rituals to nonreligious identities. Has secured funding from DFG, FWO, and OeAD for interdisciplinary projects on embodiment, pluralism, and religious markets.