Ulrich L. Lehner

Ulrich L. Lehner is the William K. Warren Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. His work focuses on the History of Christianity, particularly the Catholic Enlightenment, Early Modern Europe, and Gender and Race in religious contexts. He holds a Dr.phil.habil. from the University of Regensburg and a Ph.D. from the Central European University.

Key affiliations include the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton), where he was a Member and Herodotus Fellow, and the Institute for Comparative History of Religious Orders (University of Eichstätt). He has been honored with fellowships from the Humboldt Foundation, Earhart Foundation, and NDIAS, among others, and inducted into prestigious academies like the European Academy for Sciences and Arts (2014).

Lehner’s research explores global Catholicism, the interplay between religion and modernity, and the intellectual history of the Enlightenment. His books, such as The Catholic Enlightenment and Staged Chastity, have been translated into multiple languages. He advocates for critical thinking and the application of reason in both academic and everyday contexts, as seen in Think Better.

• Educations: PhD University of Regensburg, Dr.phil.habil., Central European University.
• Research Focus: Catholic Enlightenment, sexual abuse in religious orders, transnational church history, and theological modernization.

His articles and books analyze historical figures like Rudolf von Gerlach and Ludovico Muratori, while his scholarly awards reflect recognition for bridging theology, history, and modern thought.