Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize  2025

Michael Seewald has dedicated himself to concise, unconventional and creative studies in systematic theology, particularly in the history and hermeneutics of dogmas. With his historically and critically derived and systematically reasoned plea for the changeability of dogmas while maintaining tradition, he has succeeded in building a bridge between opposing camps in Catholicism. Recognised as a leading figure in dogmatic hermeneutics, he significantly impacts ongoing theological conversations about reform, faith dynamics, and tradition, while also fostering a greater appreciation of scholarly theologians who are involved in broader public discourse, not just in the academic domain. He also pursues comparative religious studies in collaboration with Islamic scholar Thomas Bauer and Jewish Studies scholar Alfred Bodenheimer. These studies are a consistent advancement of his thinking, aiming to compare the fluidity of competing claims to validity within a broader context.