The most beautiful end of the world? Future scenarios, utopias and dystopias- Lecture Series 2025/2026

Utopias in literature, film, art, or religion paint beautiful pictures of future social lifestyles, while dystopias are rather gruesome ones. This criticises existing structures and, at the same time, points to alternative ideas and unrealised potential.

In the three religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, there have also been repeated attempts to develop social counter-designs and reform programmes and to dream of a better world. These include ideas in the holy scriptures themselves, the expectation of a millennial kingdom of peace (‘millenarianism’) or a messiah, as well as real attempts to establish egalitarian communities or theocracies.
In times of social upheaval, the question increases: how do we want to live? Previous routines and the status quo are being radically questioned. Climate protection movements such as ‘Fridays for Future’ believe that a change in our way of life is essential if humanity is to survive. The World Economic Forum speaks of a ‘restart’ that has become necessary. Critical voices fear the imposition of a ‘new world order’ or an ‘eco-dictatorship’, which they do not favour.

‘Improving the world’ sounds like a lofty goal. At the same time, we know that the greatest attempts to improve the world and promises of salvation, such as communism, have often led to untold suffering.
In this lecture series, we want to look at the topic from different perspectives, such as religious traditions, religious studies, literature, sociology, history, and politics.

In an interdisciplinary exchange, we would like to reflect on how people in the past and present have imagined an improvement in the world and what similarities and differences there are in this regard. Where are the boundaries between a religious utopia and religious fanaticism? What functions do utopias or dystopias have? And what differences and similarities can be found between religious utopias?

Lecture

Technikfanatismus in der islamischen Welt – Ramy Abdin (16. October 2025)
Bavarian Research Center for Interreligious Discourses, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Georges Tamer (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Director of BaFID)
This lecture marks the beginning of the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

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In the first lecture of the lecture series on the topic “The most beautiful end of the world? Future scenarios, utopias and dystopias”, Ramy Abdin, M.A. speaks about the fanaticism of technology in the Islamic world.

Lecture

Hoffnung und Verblendung – Jüdischer Messianismus in der Neuzeit – Prof. Dr. George Yaakov Kohler (23. October 2025)
Bar-Ilan University (Israel)
Moderation: Dr. Nathanael Riemer (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Research Associate specializing in Judaism)
This lecture is part of the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

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In the second lecture of the lecture series on the topic “The most beautiful end of the world? Future scenarios, utopias and dystopias” Prof. Dr. Kohler brings us closer to Jewish Messianism in modern times.

Lecture

Nichts wie weg? – Das Christentum zwischen apokalyptischer Sehnsucht und Liebe zur Welt – Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt (30. October 2025)
Siegen
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Georg Langenhorst, University of Augsburg
This lecture is part of the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

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In the third lecture of the lecture series on the topic “The most beautiful end of the world? Future scenarios, utopias and dystopias” Prof. Dr. Bongardt explains the topic “Nothing but getting away? Christianity between apocalyptic longing and love for the world.”

Lecture

Cool bleiben! – Kryonik als Brücke zur Medizin der Zukunft? – Dr. Alexander German (06. November 2025)
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Leven, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
This lecture is part of the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

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In the fourth lecture of the lecture series on the topic “Die schönsten Weltuntergänge? Zukunftsszenarien, Utopien und Dystopien” Dr. Alexander German takes us into a future where everything is medically conceivable.

Lecture

Galaktische Ankunft abgesagt? – Wie die neureligiöse Rael-Bewegung Israel für das Ausbleiben der Außerirdischen verantwortlich macht – Melanie Hallensleben M.A. (13. November 2025)
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Naurath, University of Augsburg
This lecture is part of the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

Lecture

Apokalypse ohne Gott? – Säkulare Apokalypsen uns religionssoziologischer Sicht – Prof. Dr. Alexander-Kenneth Nagel (20. November 2025)
University of Göttingen
Moderation: Jan Gehm M.A., FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
This lecture is part of the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

Video

In the sixth lecture of the lecture series on the topic “Die schönsten Weltuntergänge? Zukunftsszenarien, Utopien und Dystopien” Prof. Dr. Nagel gives us an insight into secular apocalypses.

Lecture

Post-futuristische Zukunftsvisionen? – Utopische Weltentwürde in der zeitgenössischen Kunst – Dr. Ann-Kathrin Günzel (27. November 2025)
Author and editor-in-chief of KUNSTFORUM international
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Christine Strunck, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
This lecture is part of the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

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In the seventh lecture of the lecture series on the topic “Die schönsten Weltuntergänge? Zukunftsszenarien, Utopien und Dystopien” the audience gained an insight into the world of art.

Lecture

Vorwärts immer, rückwärts nimmer? – Ideen zu einer komparatistischen Prognostik von KI-Utopien und KI-Dystopien – Prof. Dr. Wolfgang M. Schröder (04. December 2025)
Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg
Moderation: PD Dr. Christian Lange, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
This lecture is part of the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

Video

In the eighth lecture of the lecture series on the topic “Die schönsten Weltuntergänge? Zukunftsszenarien, Utopien und Dystopien” Prof. Dr. Schröder explains his ideas on AI utopias and AI dystopias.

Lecture

Vom Untergang zur Erneuerung – Thesen zur Funktion von Dystopien – Prof. Dr. Eva Marlene Hausteiner (15. January 2026)
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Georges Tamer, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
This lecture is part of the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

Video

In the ninth lecture of the lecture series on the topic “Die schönsten Weltuntergänge? Zukunftsszenarien, Utopien und Dystopien” Prof. Dr. Schröder explains his ideas on AI utopias and AI dystopias.

Lecture

Frei gewählt – unfrei gelebt? – Islamistische Zukunftsszenarien in französischen Romanen – Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ursula Henningsfeld (29. January 2026)
Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf
Moderation: Ramy Abdin M.A., FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
This lecture concludes the Bavarian Interreligious College 2025/2026.

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In the last lecture of the lecture series on the topic “Die schönsten Weltuntergänge? Zukunftsszenarien, Utopien und Dystopien” Professor Henningsfeld concludes the topic with a look at the world of literature.