Kurt Lüthi


Kurt Lüthi was a Swiss Reformed theologian and a professor at the University Vienna.

Life

Lüthi studied Protestant theology in Bern and Basel, amongst his teachers were Karl Barth, Karl Ludwig Schmidt and Oscar Cullmann. In 1949 he became pastor at the Reformed church of the Canton of Bern, first in Beatenberg, later on in Biel. In 1955 he achieved his doctorate in theology at the University of Basel with a thesis on Judas Iscariot, in 1959 he habiltated at the University of Bern. From 1964 until his retirement 1990 Lüthi held the chair for systematic theology at the Protestant faculty of the University of Vienna. For many years Lüthi served as a member in the synod of the Helvetic Church in Austria, as well as in the general synod of all Lutheran Churches in Austria.
Lüthi's work focused on political philosophy, feminist theology and the relation between theology and psychoanalysis. In 1965, together with well respected theologians Wilhelm Dantine, Ferdinand Klostermann and Otto Mauer, he instigated the foundation of Austrias first Ecumenical Study Group. From 1967 to 1988 he was engaged in Christian–Jewish reconciliation work and served as member of the board in the Commission for Christian-Jewish cooperation. In 1970 he was appointed as honorary member of the foundation Pro Oriente. Lüthi also furthered the dialogue between Christianity and Marxism, as well as talks between the arts and theology.

Selected publications