As early as the Reformation era, there were passionate debates over whether a Christian could be a soldier. Numerous texts from the early modern period attest to this. War is also a recurring theme in letters. The question of how to evaluate participation in war is discussed alongside many other issues. The suffering caused by war is addressed, as is the question of proper conduct during wartime. But who clashed with whom over the controversial question of whether a Christian may be a soldier? 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 the director of the project “Correspondence between Theologians in the South-western Part of the Empire in the Early Modern Period (1550-1620)” at the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 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 scholars from the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities as well as from its seven sister academies. The lectures are aimed at a broad audience to provide insights into the research being conducted. Afterward, attendees have the opportunity to chat with the scholars over pretzels and wine in the Academy’s Hofgarten.

The series is organized in cooperation with the Heidelberg Adult Education Center (vhs Heidelberg).