معرفی
Christine Helmer is the Peter B. Ritzma Professor of the Humanities at Northwestern University, where she serves as Professor of German with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Religious Studies. She holds significant academic appointments across multiple departments within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and serves as Associate Chair of Willard Residential College.
- Northwestern University, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
- Department of German (primary appointment)
- Department of Religious Studies (courtesy appointment)
- Willard Residential College (Associate Chair)
Professor Helmer specializes in Christian theology from historical, systematic, and constructive perspectives, with particular focus on German intellectual history. Her research centers on the theology of Martin Luther, the philosophy and theology of Friedrich Schleiermacher, and the Luther Renaissance movement of early twentieth-century Germany. She has pioneered research on the medieval philosophical underpinnings of Luther's theology, challenging previous scholarly assumptions about Luther's relationship to medieval thought. Her work also explores theology's relationship to the modern study of religion, the humanities, and contemporary cultural challenges including political polarization and human rights.
Her scholarship reveals a consistent trajectory from historical analysis to constructive theology, with recent work addressing urgent contemporary issues through theological frameworks. Professor Helmer has significantly shaped the field through her concept of the 'Luther Renaissance' and her argument about how early twentieth-century German theologians constructed the myth of Luther as a modern figure. Her 2019 book How Luther Became the Reformer demonstrates how this myth construction was anti-Catholic and anti-Jewish while containing proto-fascist elements.
- Honorary doctorate from University of Helsinki (2017)
- Marie Curie EURIAS Fellowship (2012-2013)
- Visiting Corcoran Chair at Boston College (2017-2018)
- Research Fellow in Philosophy and Theology of Humility Project (2014-2015)
Professor Helmer has secured significant research funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Humboldt Foundation. She founded the 'Lutheran Scholars of Religion' group to address cultural, religious, climatological, and political challenges through theological perspectives. Her teaching includes undergraduate courses on religious thinkers in Western thought, religion and sports, and her popular 'Why College?' class, plus a free Coursera MOOC on 'Luther and the West.' She actively mentors graduate students through Northwestern's Department of German.
