Research Unit on the Formation of Early Jewish and Christian Ideology

University of Helsinki and Åbo Akademi University

Director: Academy Professor Heikki Räisänen
tel. +358 9 898 422 and +358 9 191 22043
fax +358 9 191 22106
heikki.raisanen(at)helsinki.fi

Centre of Excellence Homepage

The Unit is divided into seven research teams. A central research interest is the beginning of Christianity as a Jewish movement and the gradual parting of ways of the two religions. Special attention is paid to the significance of social situations and legitimation strategies. One goal is a comprehensive overall account of early Christian ideology.This project is supported by specialised research in selected areas which have been insufficiently explored by international scholars. The boundaries of the biblical canon are programmatically ignored.

Jewish ideology is studied both as a matrix for emerging Christianity and in its own right. The roots of Judaism and Christianity are (to a considerable extent) traced back to the religion in the ancient Israel, which is also studied in its own right in its Near-Eastern context. The use of texts that have recently become accessible plays a crucial part: the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Coptic texts from Nag Hammadi and the state archives of Assyria.

A number of different methodological approaches are being used. Classical historical-critical methods are complemented with fresh social-scientific and literary approaches; critical syntheses of the old and the new are being sought. Ideological criticism, coupled with reception history, pervades many studies.

The Unit deals with  sources and convictions that form the root of Western culture. Its work should clarify our identity as Europeans; its results have a bearing on debates concerning social structures, values and symbol systems in our society. In a more or less secularised world it is helpful to have access to an analysis of Christian origins that is not limited to an inner-Christian perspective, but takes a more detached comparative approach to religion.

The Unit has 28 senior researchers (including twelve professors), nine junior researchers and 30 doctoral students,  total number of personnel 67 (of which 48 at the University of Helsinki and 19 at Åbo Akademi University).