Martin Baumann is professor for the study of religions at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland. He obtained his Ph.D. with a thesis on the history of Buddhism in Germany (1993) and wrote his post-doctorial thesis (habilitation) on Hindu traditions in diasporic contexts (1999). His research and teaching concentrates on the spread and settlement of Buddhist and Hindu traditions outside of Asia, studies on diaspora and migrant religions, and theory and method in the history of religions. He is the author of "Diaspora: Hindus and Trinidad" (2003) and "Migration, Religion, Integration" (2000). He has coedited "Tempel und Tamilen in zweiter Heimat" (2003), "Westward Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Asia" (2002) and "Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices" (2002). Dr. Baumann has conducted extensive research and produced numerous publications on the Asian immigrant religions in Central Europe. His research interests include Buddhism in the West, Religion in Diaspora, Tamil Hindus in Germany, Migration and Religion, and the religious demography of Lucerne. His well-organized homepage offers extensive information about his work. His work with the Pluralism Project includes work on Muslim religious traditions and organizations in Central Europe conducted by Dr. Samuel-Martin Behoul and slide shows on the Asian immigrant religions in Germany and Switzerland conducted with Brigitte Luchesi and Annettte Wilke.

Non-Christian Religions in Central Switzerland: A Case Study of Muslim Traditions and Organizations in the Municipality of Lucerne

As part of a larger project researching the religious pluralism in Switzerland headed by Dr. Martin Baumann, this research, conducted by Dr. Samuel-Martin Behoul, focuses on the Muslim traditions and organizations in Central Switzerland. Samuel M. Behloul is a Researcher and Assistant Professor at the Department for the Study of Religions at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland. He obtained his Ph.D at the Free University of Berlin (Department for Arabic Sciences) with a thesis on Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi and his Polemic against the Four Gospels (2000). His post-doctorial thesis (habilitation) focuses on the Muslim Traditions and Organisations in Central Switzerland with a special consideration of the issue of internal Pluralism among the Muslim Migrants in Switzerland. The paper is available in English here [new link forthcoming].

 

Selected Links and Publications

• Project: Cupola - Temple - Minaret
• Paper: “Anxieties, banning minarets and populist politics in Switzerland—a preliminary analysis” (2009)
• Faculty Website: Martin Baumann