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"We research. For you." III: Can a Christian go to war? A question that was already widely debated in the 16th century.

Even during the Reformation, the question of whether a Christian could be a soldier was hotly debated. This is evidenced by numerous letters from the early modern period.

Letters are an important, yet still underutilized and largely undigitized source for research into the early modern period. They discuss a wide variety of issues, such as how to transport books from A to B in the cheapest and safest way, or how Christians should behave in wartime. We learn that the question of whether a Christian could be a soldier was hotly debated during the Reformation. Who argued with whom on this issue? What arguments were put forward for and against?

About the author: Prof. Dr. Christoph Strohm was Professor of Reformation History and Modern Church History at Heidelberg University from 2006 to 2024. He is head of the project "Theological Correspondence in the Southwest of the Empire in the Early Modern Period (1550-1620)" at the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences, of which he has been a full member since 2008.

About the lecture series: This public lecture series has been taking place for over 20 years now, featuring scientists from the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities as well as from its seven sister academies. The lectures are aimed at a broad audience and provide insights into the research work being carried out. Afterwards, there is an opportunity to talk to the scientists over pretzels and wine in the Academy's courtyard garden.

The series is held in cooperation with vhs Heidelberg.

Date: July 8 , 2026

Location: Lecture hall of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences, Karlstr. 4, 69117 Heidelberg

Start: 6:15 p.m.

Lecture:Prof. Dr. Christoph Strohm (Heidelberg)

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