Salzburg University Weeks: Audience Award for Johannes Tomberg

A jury had selected three presentations from all those submitted in advance, which were assessed by the audience according to their scientific quality, originality and transferability. Tomberg came out on top against Augsburg chemist and environmental scientist Christian Schnurr and Aachen theologian Aaron Dörstel.

Johannes Tomberg studied Catholic Theology in Fulda from 2018 to 2022 and then at the University of Erfurt from 2022 to 2023. He is currently completing his doctorate in Philosophy at the Faculty of Catholic Theology here.

In his lecture at the University Weeks, he argued in favour of a new "world relationship" for human beings. He explained that an excessive striving for availability, together with an understanding of freedom that views this solely as individual availability over nature and objects, has led to "signs of poisoning" in society. The theologian refers to the sociologist and director of the Max-Weber-Kolleg at the University of Erfurt, Professor Hartmut Rosa. He sees an increasing "relationship of aggression" between humans and the environment (which manifests itself not least in climate change) and an associated loss of "world relationship". Therefore, climate change cannot be combated by technical regulation alone. According to Tomberg, what is needed instead is a correction in the relationship between humans and the world. "Let's stop confusing freedom with availability and rethink our relationship to the world. The path is uncertain, but let's take it: with humility before creation and courage for what is to come."