LIMINA - Grazer theologische Perspektiven

LIMINA - Theological perspectives from Graz is the scientific open-access journal of the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Graz. The thematic focus of LIMINA is on current transformation processes and is oriented towards the following questions: What are the socially, culturally, politically, religiously and ecclesiastically most challenging changes and upheavals of the present? How can these be addressed from a theological perspective? In what way do they require innovative methodological and interdisciplinary approaches? How do these changes and conflicts transform theology itself?

Call for Papers - New Beginnings. From the Ending of Worlds to the Vision of Futures

2025-10-31

In times of uncertainty and instability we turn towards new beginnings. Which poses the question: Is it possible to start anew, to leave the past and status quo behind and create something entirely new?

LIMINA 9:2 (autumn 2026) explores the topic of “New Beginnings. From the ending of worlds to the vision of futures” and seeks out philosophical, theological and cultural science potentials and possibilities for new beginnings.

We are looking for academic papers in German or English, which can also be interdisciplinary and methodologically unconventional.

Deadline for outline submission: 15.12.2025

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): What is childhood? Philosophical, cultural and theological perspectives

Valerio Berruti: The Singer

‘Childhood’ is not a pertinent question of theology – at least at first glance. Looking closer, however, the term ‘child’ appears in many theological texts and contexts, particularly with regard to what it means to be a child and the concept of ‘children of God’. While these references are often used in a metaphorical rather than investigative sense, this issue of LIMINA – Theological perspectives from Graz specifically seeks to extract and extrapolate aspects of childhood(s) and child-being that may inspire as well as irritate theological thought and research.

Published: 2025-05-15

LIMINA 8:1 (2025) (Deutsch)

Cover
What is childhood? Philosophical, cultural and theological perspectives

limina_8-1_cover.pdf (Deutsch)

Title

1-4

limina_8-1_title.pdf (Deutsch)

Contents

5-6

limina_8-1_contents.pdf (Deutsch)

Editorial: Was heißt Kindheit?
Philosophische, kulturwissenschaftliche und theologische Perspektiven

Isabella Guanzini, David Novakovits, Wolfgang Weirer

7-12

limina_8-1_1_editorial_german.pdf (Deutsch)

Editorial: What is childhood?
Philosophical, cultural and theological perspectives

Isabella Guanzini, David Novakovits, Wolfgang Weirer

13-17

limina_8-1_2_editorial_english.pdf

Childhood today and Childhood Studies

Johanna Mierendorff, Marie-Christin Linde

18-38

limina_8-1_3_mierendorff-linde.pdf (Deutsch)

The difficulty of being brought into the world
Thoughts on a theology of childhood

David Novakovits

39-60

limina_8-1_4_novakovits.pdf (Deutsch)

The special ethical status of children and children’s rights
Vulnerability, autonomy and children’s rights at the intersection of parents and state

Gottfried Schweiger

61-81

limina_8-1_5_schweiger.pdf (Deutsch)

Liberating childhood?
A critique on new anti-pedagogy concepts

Johannes Drerup

82-100

limina_8-1_6_drerup.pdf (Deutsch)

The possible that is not yet
Walter Benjamin on the traces of childhood

Anna Lazzarini

101-122

limina_8-1_7_lazzarini.pdf (Deutsch)

Psychoanalytic elements in child envy
Melanie Klein and Augustine on original sin

Martin Eleven

123-144

limina_8-1_8_eleven.pdf (Deutsch)

Childhood in a Digitalized World
Overview and commentary on the discourse surrounding the negative impact of smartphones and internet use on children and adolescents

Christian Feichtinger

145-166

limina_8-1_9_feichtinger.pdf (Deutsch)

“I want to raise my child interreligiously.”
Approaches towards ‘interreligious’ or ‘religiously open’ parenting in a religiously plural society

Katharina Gaida, Agnes Gmoser, Mevlida Mešanović

167-194

limina_8-1_10_gaida-gmoser-mesanovic.pdf (Deutsch)

Orientierung
Call for Papers - LIMINA 9:1 (Frühjahr 2026)

195-197

limina_8-1_cfp-9-1_orientierung.pdf (Deutsch)

Orientation
Call for Papers - LIMINA 9:1 (Spring 2026)

198-200

limina_8-1_cfp-9-1_orientation.pdf

Imprint and back cover

201-202

limina_8-1_imprint_back.pdf (Deutsch)

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