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Evangelische Theologie

Dr Carolin M. Altmann

Research assistant at the Chair of Religious Education and Didactics of Protestant Religious Education

Room: O.10.03
Phone: 0202 439 3944
Email: altmann[at]uni-wuppertal.de

Office address:
University of Wuppertal
School of Humanities and Cultural Studies
(Protestant Theology)
Gaußstraße 20, D-42097 Wuppertal

Career and Publications

  • Born in Frankfurt am Main in 1992
  • 2011–2016: Studied German, mathematics, music, and Protestant theology to become an elementary school teacher at the University of Kassel (also completed a one-year foundational training program in drama and advanced training to become a certified Godly Play storyteller)
  • 2016: First state examination for elementary school teaching
  • 2016–2021 Research assistant at the Institute for Protestant Theology (Religious Education) at the University of Kassel as part of externally funded projects under the ‘Quality Initiative for Teacher Education’ (PRONET and PRONET²) (also, in 2017, certification in children’s choir conducting from the Protestant Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck)
  • 2021–2023 Teacher training program for elementary school teaching at the Teacher Training Seminar for Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education Schools in Kassel
  • 2022 Ph.D.: “On the Connection Between Personal Theologizing and the Facilitation of Theological Discussions. A Grounded Theory Study with Implications for Higher Education Pedagogy.”
  • 2023 Second State Examination for Elementary School Teaching
  • Since 2023 Research Assistant / Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Wuppertal, Institute for Protestant Theology (Religious Education)

a) Monographs

  • Altmann, Carolin M. (2023): On the Connection Between Personal Theological Reflection and the Facilitation of Theological Discussions. A Grounded Theory Study with Implications for Higher Education Pedagogy. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht (Studies in Religious Education, 75).

Review of the thesis:

Eisenhardt, Saskia (2024): Students’ engagement with theological questions. Fostering positionality, strengthening identity. In: Praktische Theologie 59 (3), S. 187–188.

  • Altmann, Carolin (2017): Dramatic Interpretation in Elementary School – Perspectives on the Teaching of Literature and Music in Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel.” Edited by the Center for Teacher Education, University of Kassel https://kobra.uni-kassel.de/handle/123456789/2017022252105

 

b) Articles in journals, anthologies, and encyclopedias

  • Altmann, Carolin M.; Effert, Inga (2026): First Aid Kit. In: Tanja Gojny, Lukas Grill, and Ingrid Grill-Ahollinger (eds.): School Supplies. Religious Hermeneutical and Religious Pedagogical Perspectives on Objects from Everyday School Life. (accepted)
     
  • Altmann, Carolin M. (2026): Entry: Textbook Series, Current, Protestant, Elementary School/Special Education School. In: WiReLex. https://doi.org/10.23768/wirelex.400147.
  • Altmann, Carolin M. (2025): Addressing War Through Picture Books. Analysis of Religious Education Practice Designs. In: Norbert Brieden, Hans Mendl, Hanna Roose, and Axel Wiemer (eds.): War (Yearbook for Constructivist Religious Education, 16). Babenhausen: LUSA, pp. 103–113.
     
  • Altmann, Carolin M. (2025): How Can People Live in Peace? Religious Education as a Contribution to Democratic Education. In: The Elementary School Journal, Annual Issue 1, pp. 68–71.
     
  • Altmann, Carolin M. (2025): Children’s theological interpretations and approaches to the crucifixion of Jesus in interdenominational religious education. In: Britta Baumert and Caroline Teschmer (eds.): On the Sustainability of Religious Education. Interdenominational Cooperation Put to the Test. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, pp. 275–290.

  • Altmann, Carolin M.; Drube, Julia; Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (2022): Classroom Discussions in the Context of Theological Reflection with Children and Adolescents. In: Annegret Reese-Schnitker, Daniel Bertram, and Dominic Fröhle (eds.): Discussions in Religious Education. Insights – Perspectives – Potential. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, pp. 85–98.

  • Altmann, Carolin M. (2021): “Is the COVID-19 Pandemic God’s Will?” A Seminar Concept Based on Students’ Current Questions Regarding the Religious Education Approach of Theological Discussions. In: HLZ – Herausforderung Lehrer*innenbildung 4 (1), pp. 344–364. https://doi.org/10.11576/hlz-4173

  • Altmann, Carolin (2019): “Hear my cry, my heart is in anguish” (Ps 61:2f.). Art as an impetus for theological reflection on existential human experiences. In: RPI-Impulse (4), pp. 15–16. https://www.rpi-ekkw-ekhn.de/fileadmin/templates/rpi/normal/material/rpiimpulse/2019/heft_4/Artikel/RPI_Impluse_4-2019_10_Hoere_mein_Schreien_mein_Herz_ist_in_Angst.pdf

  • Altmann, Carolin M.; Kallies-Bothmann, Johanna; Kitzinger, Marie Sophie (2018): Children as Researchers. In: Rune Øystese and Martin Steinhäuser (eds.): Godly Play – European Perspectives on Practice and Research / Gott im Spiel – Europäische Perspektiven auf Praxis und Forschung. Münster, New York: Waxmann, pp. 161–174.

  • Altmann, Carolin (2016): What Animals Dream About and Why Singing Supports Written Language Acquisition. A Song with Activities to Support Sound and Syllable Recognition. In: Grundschulunterricht Deutsch (3), pp. 23–27.

 

c) Research Data (Transcripts of Theological Discussions)

d) Textbooks and educational materials

The “Spuren lesen” textbook series includes one textbook, one workbook, picture cards, and a teacher’s guide for each of the grades 1–2 and 3–4. Sample bibliographic references: 

  • Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (ed.) (2024): Reading Traces 3/4 Teacher’s Guide – 2023 Edition for Elementary School. Compiled by Carolin M. Altmann, Ulrike von Altrock, Hans Burkhardt, Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Katharina Gaida, Ulrike Itze, and Brigitte Zeeh-Silva. Stuttgart: Calwer; Braunschweig: Westermann.
     
  • Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (ed.) (2023): Reading Traces 1/2 Student Book – 2023 Edition for Elementary School. Compiled by Carolin M. Altmann, Ulrike von Altrock, Hans Burkhardt, Petra Freudenberger-Lötz, Katharina Gaida, Ulrike Itze, and Brigitte Zeeh-Silva. Stuttgart: Calwer; Braunschweig: Westermann. 

     

e) Teaching Materials for Higher Education 

  • Altmann, Carolin M. (2021): “Is the COVID-19 Pandemic God’s Will?” A seminar concept based on students’ current questions regarding the religious education approach of “Theological Conversations” [Online Supplement 2: Worksheets for Implementation]. In: HLZ – Herausforderung Lehrer*innenbildung 4 (1), pp. 344–364. https://doi.org/10.11576/hlz-4173

  • Altmann, Carolin M. (2021): “Is the COVID-19 pandemic God’s will?” A seminar concept based on current questions from students regarding the religious education approach of “Theological Conversations” [Online Supplement 1: Implementation of the seminar components based on students’ theological questions – practical and concrete]. In: HLZ – Herausforderung Lehrer*innenbildung 4 (1), pp. 344–364. https://doi.org/10.11576/hlz-4173
     
  • Altmann, Carolin; Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra; Reiß, Annike; Kallies-Bothmann, Johanna (2020): The Development of Children and Adolescents – From the Perspective of Faith and Religion. Course in Religious Education. Course Module 2.2 (Theology in Distance Learning). Würzburg: Domschule Würzburg.

  • Altmann, Carolin; Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra; Reiß, Annike (2020): The Development of Children and Adolescents – From the Perspective of Their Living Environment. Course in Religious Education. Course Module 1.2 (Theology by Correspondence).

     

f) Reviews (Selection)

  • Altmann, Carolin M.; Freudenberger-Lötz, Petra (2021): Uta Pohl-Patalong, Bibliolog. Ideas for Worship, Congregations, and Schools. Volume 3: Religious Education. Stuttgart, Kohlhammer 2019. In: Journal of Pedagogy and Theology 73 (3), pp. 327–330. https://doi.org/10.1515/zpt-2021-0037
     
  • Altmann, Carolin (2019): Kaiser, Ursula Ulrike; Lenz, Ulrike; Simon, Evamaria; Steinhäuser, Martin, God in Play. A Practical Handbook. Godly Play Further Developed. Stuttgart, Calwer 2018. In: Theory and Practice of Social Pedagogy (5), p. 51.
     
  • Altmann, Carolin (2019): Steinhäuser, Martin (ed.), God in Play. In-Depth Stories on the Old Testament. Godly Play Further Developed. Stuttgart, Calwer 2018. In: Theory and Practice of Social Pedagogy (5), p. 51.

 

g) Presentations / Workshops (Selection)

  • Addressing the topic of war through children’s books – exploring approaches in religious education. Event: Lecture at the conference of the Association for Constructivism in Theology and Religious Education (Verein für Konstruktivismus in Theologie und Religionsdidaktik e.V.) titled “War Education,” Fulda, February 19, 2025.
     
  • Round Table. Event: Workshop at the annual conference of the GwR “… a title should actually be here. Science Communication in Religious Education,” Würzburg, September 14, 2024.
     
  • Religion in Elementary School. Habilitation project. Event: Lecture at the GwR graduate workshop, Würzburg, September 12, 2024.
     
  • Individual Positions in (Denominational-Cooperative) Religious Education in Elementary Schools: The Example of Jesus’ Death on the Cross. Event: Workshop at the conference “On the Sustainability of Religious Education – Denominational Cooperation Put to the Test,” Frankfurt am Main, November 17, 2023.

  • Theory of Students’ Engagement with Theological Questions. A Grounded Theory Analysis. Event: Poster pitch at the GwR Annual Conference “Where Do I Stand, Where Can I Be Different? Positioning as a Field of Work in Religious and Community Education,” Erfurt, September 10, 2022.

  • “Am I meant to be this way?” Sex and gender—in conversation with biblical figures. Event: Workshop at the 3 Phases Study Day. Together differently—differently together—inclusion in religious education, June 25, 2021.

  • Godly Play—God at play. Encountering biblical stories with preschoolers. Event: Virtual training for educators, organized by the Diocese of Linz’s College of Education, January 28, 2021.

  • Rediscovering one’s own theological reflection and spirituality. Event: Retreat for staff of the Evangelical Youth of Kassel, January 20–21, 2020.

  • Godly Play in Religious Education. Event: Professional development workshop for teachers at the Bildungshaus Schloss Puchberg, Austria, November 27–28, 2019.

  • Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Cemeteries. Interfaith Insights for Theological Reflection. Event: Workshop at the Kassel Vocation Conference – Religion in the Public Sphere, November 21, 2019.

  • On the Mystery of the Resurrection – A Workshop on Theologizing with Godly Play, Music, and Performative Methods. Event: Study Day of the 3 Phases – Jesus Christ in Religious Education, May 24, 2019.

  • “Do You Need an Airplane to Get to God in Heaven?” Theologizing with Children – Foundations, Goals, Methods, and Practical Examples on the Topic of ‘Heaven.’ Event: Lecture at the Study Day of the Stuttgart Teacher Training Seminar, June 23, 2017 [Together with Johanna Kallies-Bothmann]

  • Religion in Elementary School
  • Theology with Children, Adolescents, and Students
  • Positionality in Religious Education (Empirical)
  • Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory