Protestant Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (FEST e.V.)

The Protestant Institute for Interdisciplinary Research arose in 1957/58 through the merger of two small church-sponsored academic institutions: the research institute of the Protestant academies in Bad Boll (Württemberg), with its noted commission for Marxism research, and the Christophorus-Stift in Hemer (Westphalia), that apart from studies on church law (Hans Dombois) concentrated on the dialogue between quantum physics, theology and philosophy (Günter Howe). The first director of the newly established institute (German acronym FEST) was the eminent philosopher and educational reformer Georg Picht, who had been ordinary professor for philosophy of religion at the theology faculty of Heidelberg University from 1964. The first chair of the new academic board of trustees was Ludwig Raiser, while the executive board was chaired by Karl Lücking, deputy theological president of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia. They both played a major part in establishing the institute.

The Protestant Institute for Interdisciplinary Research arose in 1957/58 through the merger of two small church-sponsored academic institutions: the research institute of the Protestant academies in Bad Boll (Württemberg), with its noted commission for Marxism research, and the Christophorus-Stift in Hemer (Westphalia), that apart from studies on church law (Hans Dombois) concentrated on the dialogue between quantum physics, theology and philosophy (Günter Howe). The first director of the newly established institute (German acronym FEST) was the eminent philosopher and educational reformer Georg Picht, who had been ordinary professor for philosophy of religion at the theology faculty of Heidelberg University from 1964. The first chair of the new academic board of trustees was Ludwig Raiser, while the executive board was chaired by Karl Lücking, deputy theological president of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia. They both played a major part in establishing the institute.