Michaela Quast-Neulinger
Professor of Fundamental Theology and Religious Studies at the Faculty of Catholic Theology in Innsbruck
Michaela Quast-Neulinger completed her degree studies in Catholic theology at the Universities of Vienna and Salzburg (with a supplement in philosophy and political science) and in Jerusalem (Dormition Abbey) from 2005 to 2011, followed by a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies at the University of Birmingham.
In 2017, she received her PhD in Catholic Theology (Innsbruck) with a thesis on Talal Asad and the possibility of a “political theology of vulnerability” which would pave the way for a positive contribution of religions to the common good in a secular-plural age.
Her current research focuses on the interaction of Jewish-Christian-Muslim responses to the epistemic transformations of the “long 19th century”, including intensive reflections of what (religious) authority, tradition and knowledge could mean in an age of shattered orders. The heated debates about sex, gender, family and the (il-) legitimate function of religion in the construction of the social order are an epicenter of these conflicts. Their rigorous comparative study is of serious historical, theological and contemporary interest. Besides, Dr Quast-Neulinger works on re-readings of Mary in dialogue with Maryam and continuously reflects on the future of theology in interaction with religions and society.
Resources of this researcher
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videos
The 19th century as a new ‘axial era’. Some epistemological aspects of the authority crisis
- Michaela Quast-Neulinger
Conference « Religious Authority in Islam », organised by the Centre for the Study of Cultures and Religions and the Research Unit of the Catholic University of Lyon (UCLy), on 18 and 19 November 2...
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videos
The Question of Otherness in Classical Islam | Respondents
- Michaela Quast-Neulinger
- Tobias Specker
- Alessandro Ferrari
Following the lecture: “The question of Otherness in Classical Islam” given by Raja SAKRANI, three members of the scientific committee of the PLURIEL network give answers according to t...
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publication
Between dolorism and perfectionism, contours of a political theology of vulnerability
- Michaela Quast-Neulinger
Original title : “Zwischen Dolorismus und Perfektionismus. Konturen einer politischen Theologie der Verwundbarkeit” Even after centuries of confrontation, the relationship between polit...
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videos
A comparative study of Talal Asad’s and Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na-im’s discussions of Muslims and their (non-)belonging in the secular-liberal state
- Michaela Quast-Neulinger
Conference of Michaela NEULINGER during the second international Congress of PLURIEL in Rome. In contemporary times, the principle “citizenship” is defended as an inclusive concept uniting people i...
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videos
Presentation of the congress “Islam and Belonging” of PLURIEL
- Michel Younès
- Gonzalo Villagrán
- Marco Demichelis
- Emmanuel Pisani
- Michaela Quast-Neulinger
- Mohamed-Ali Mostfa
- Tobias Specker
With the voices of members of the Scientific Comittee
Resources related to
Muslim-Christian Dialogue
article
Kenneth Cragg and the Event of the Qur’an
- Timo Güzelmansur
Article by Timo Güzelmansur published under the title Kenneth Cragg und das Ereignis des Koran on the theological portal feinschwarz.net (12 June 2026, open access). Timo Güzelmansur presents the A...
article
Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and the Pluriel working group on AI-assisted interreligious dialogue
- Wael Saleh
Text by Wael Saleh, researcher at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and member of the Pluriel coordination committee. The simultaneous appearance of Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Human...
publication
The Recognition of a Hummingbird. Essays on Interreligious Dialogue and Missionary Work (2007-2025)
- Rémi Caucanas
Published in May 2026 by PISAI (Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Rome), this collection brings together the essays of Rémi Caucanas on interreligious dialogue and missionary wor...
videos
From Lavigerie to PISAI: The Institutional History of the Missionaries of Africa’s Engagement with Islam
Delivered on 21 May 2026 at the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI) in Rome, this lecture opens the series of conferences marking the institute's centenary (1926-2026). Fr. ...
videos
Interreligious Dialogue and Ethnic Nationalisms in the Balkans
At the invitation of PISAI (Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Rome) and Georgetown University, Ahmet Alibašić, professor of Islamic civilization at the Faculty of Islamic Studies...
publication
For a Christian Theology of Religions
- Michel Younès
Faced with contemporary religious diversity, how can Christian theology make sense of the place that other religions occupy in God’s design? Michel Younès examines the three traditional ̶...
publication
Intercultural Theology
- Jean Patrick Nkolo Fanga
Because every theology is culturally situated, Christian theology is inevitably multicultural. Yet one step remains to be taken: to become intercultural. Crossing languages, contexts, origins, ages...
article
Bells and Muezzin in Harmony: Dialogue with Islam as a Spiritual Responsibility
- Timo Güzelmansur
Article by Timo Güzelmansur published under the title Glocken und Muezzin im Einklang. Der Dialog mit dem Islam als geistliche Verantwortung in Herder Korrespondenz (special issue devoted to Pope L...