What is it with German theologians? A Muslim convert hired as a professor of Islamic theology to counter the teaching of extremist Muslims has determined that the Prophet Muhammad probably didn’t exist:

When Prof. Kalisch took up his theology chair four years ago, he was seen as proof that modern Western scholarship and Islamic ways can mingle — and counter the influence of radical preachers in Germany. He was put in charge of a new program at Münster, one of Germany’s oldest and most respected universities, to train teachers in state schools to teach Muslim pupils about their faith.
Muslim leaders cheered and joined an advisory board at his Center for Religious Studies. Politicians hailed the appointment as a sign of Germany’s readiness to absorb some three million Muslims into mainstream society. But, says Andreas Pinkwart, a minister responsible for higher education in this north German region, “the results are disappointing.”
Prof. Kalisch, who insists he’s still a Muslim, says he knew he would get in trouble but wanted to subject Islam to the same scrutiny as Christianity and Judaism. German scholars of the 19th century, he notes, were among the first to raise questions about the historical accuracy of the Bible.

And he come to the same conclusion as the German Christian scholars: skepticism. I wonder if the results will be the same: an erosion in confidence in the source material but continuing to follow the traditions of the faith (Jesus isn’t God but he was a wonderful teacher and example). He seems to be following that path:

Muhammad Sven Kalisch, a Muslim convert and Germany’s first professor of Islamic theology, fasts during the Muslim holy month, doesn’t like to shake hands with Muslim women and has spent years studying Islamic scripture. Islam, he says, guides his life.

Muhammad may not have existed but by all means let’s continue the misogyny!
(via)