Research
The research done at MF is diverse and covers areas such as theology and interdisciplinary studies of religion and society.
Funding Bodies
MF's fields of research
MF is a driving force in research and development in theology, religious studies, humanities and social sciences. At MF there is a close interaction between research and education.
Prominent researchers at MF
Tatjana Schnell
Schnell holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Trier, is professor of Existential Psychology at MF and a Fellow at the Humanistic University Berlin. She leads the research group Navigating Existence and the Existential Psychology Lab, where she heads funded projects on volunteering, extremism, and meaning in life. The 2nd edition of her bestselling book, The Psychology of Meaning in Life (Routledge), was recently published.
Justin David Strong
Strong holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame with a concentration in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity. In recent years, his research has focused on situating early Christianity among ancient “popular” traditions, especially ancient fables as context for the "parables" of Jesus and the gospels. Also among his current research projects are books addressing animals in the ancient world.
Ingrid Storm
Storm holds a PhD in Social Change from the University of Manchester and is a professor of sociology with a focus on religion and society. Storm has worked on projects related to, among other things, youth radicalization and the relationship between economic security and religion in Europe. Currently, Storm is using data from large surveys to research gender differences in religiosity in Europe, and how these are changing over time.
Upcoming Events
Disputas Lloyd Nyarota
Time:MF CASR Lunch talk with Kevin Schilbrack
Time:Fagdag: Eksistensiell helse i demensomsorg – mer enn medisiner og minner
Time:MF CASR Book Talk with Ole Vik
Time:MF has two research centres:
MF Centre for the Advanced Study of Religion, MF CASR, fronts research on religion at MF. The center is an arena for research and research dissemination. MF CASR facilitates cooperation between MF and other academic institutions.
MF KOM – Centre of competance for research on, development of and communication with church and congregation. The centre functions as a communication link between scholars at MF and church bodies and workers who wish to make use of MF's expertise in their own contexts.
Research news from MF
FRIPRO funds to Mina Monier
Published: 9. April 2025
Senior Researcher Mina Monier receives funds from the Research Council of Norway in the category of Researcher Project for Early Career. The funds are awarded to the project "Unconventional Gospels (UnGos): A Computer–Assisted Analysis of Complex Harmonic Traditions in Newly Discovered Manuscripts."
The Role of Orientalism in the History of the Qurʿān
Published: 9. April 2025
Do you know how the first English translation of the Qurʿān directly from Arabic came to be? It’s a fascinating result of a race between the Protestant and Catholic churches. Zeshan Ullah Qureshi explores how sharp polemics, impressive philology, and Christian rivalry have shaped both Europe’s encounter with the Qurʿān and European thought itself.
MF Excavates the World's Oldest Monasteries
Published: 16. December 2024
MF Professor Victor Ghica leads the prestigious DEChriM project. Through groundbreaking archaeological discoveries in the desert, researchers are delving deep into the Christianization of Egypt.
Ways of belonging
Published: 6. October 2023
Explore how social belonging provides security and joy. Research from MF shows that belonging varies with individual needs and values.
