Friedemann Stengel

Friedemann Stengel is a Professor of Modern Church History at the Faculty of Theology, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. He has held this position since 2018, serving as an acting professor from 2010 to 2018. Stengel's academic career includes roles as a research associate in the DFG research group "The Enlightenment in the Context of Modern Esotericism" at the Institute for the Study of the Enlightenment and Modern Esotericism (IZEA) and as Scientist in Charge for the Horizon 2020 project "The History of Freedom and Human Dignity in Western Civilization" under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network.

His research spans the history of theology and philosophy in the long 18th century, with a focus on Pietism, Enlightenment, Reformation, and history of esotericism. He examines discourse theory, historiography, and contemporary church history, particularly in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) context. Stengel also investigates intersections of religion, culture, and political oppression, including the role of theological faculties under the SED dictatorship.

Stengel's recent articles address themes like the humanization of the Enlightenment, Swedenborgianism, physico-theology to vitalism, and identity in religious contact zones. His editorial leadership includes the Interdisciplinary Center for Pietism Research (IZP), where he has served as Managing Director since 2018. Collaborations with scholars such as Christian Soboth, Thomas Ruhland, and Hauke Heidenreich highlight his interdisciplinary approach.