Konfession und Kultur, Konfession als Kultur? Vorschläge für eine kulturalistische Konfessionskultur-Forschung

Abstract

This contribution treats Thomas Kaufmann’s concept of ‘confessional culture’ from a cultural-historical perspective. It proceeds from the observation that despite the apparent similarities between the concept of ‘confessional culture’ and decidedly cultural-historical approaches, these are outweighed by their differences. The concept as coined by Kaufmann is characterized by the opposition between confession and culture. Located at the intersection between these two dimensions, ‘confessional culture’ acts as an umbrella term and comprises a range of phenomena. These are taken as the object of investigation. By contrast, cultural-historical approaches apply a performative or semiotic concept of culture. Confession is not juxtaposed with culture, it is culture. Confessionalism was created by performative actions; confessional affiliation arose through internal and external attributions. ‘Culture’ denotes here an analytical perspective rather than an object of research. As a result, this approach does not focus on the specific characteristics of confessional cultures. This contribution suggests a third way. It analyzes confessional cultures and their characteristics explicitly, but understands them as a code which makes actions confessionally legible. With this cultural angle, confessional cultures can be analyzed in a new way. Emich ARG_109_Inhalt_DD.indd 388 10.09.2018 12:50:18