hiː kəmˈɛnst hɪz ˌʌndɚɡɹˈædʒuːət stˈʌdiz ɪn pɹˈɑːɾɪstənt θɪˈɑːlədʒi ænd kəmpˈæɹətˌɪv ɹᵻlˈɪdʒən æt ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv bɜːlˈɪn, mˈuːvɪŋ lˈeɪɾɚ tʊ ˈælbɚt lˈʌdwɪɡz jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv fɹˈeɪbɜːɡ.
He commenced his undergraduate studies in Protestant theology and comparative religion at the University of Berlin, moving later to Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg.