BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Philosophy and Theology in Conversation METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20261001T100000 DTEND:20261001T130000 DTSTAMP:20261001T100000 UID:2026/philosophy-and-theology-i@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260626T211256 LOCATION:Spectrum 5 VO Research Building De Boelelaan 1100 1081 HZ Amsterdam SUMMARY:Philosophy and Theology in Conversation X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Conference on the occas ion of the valedictory lecture of Dirk-Martin Grube

Philoso phy and theology - how are they related to each other? How can one be a full-fledged theologian and a responsible philosopher? The theolog ian/philosopher Paul Tillich famously worked at the ‘border’ betw een philosophy and theology. The work of Dirk-Martin Grube is also ch aracterized by bringing theology into conversation with Anglo-America n philosophy, particularly epistemology and ethics.

In advance of his valedictory lecture (1 October 2026, 3:45 p.m., aula, VU), thi s conference brings together colleagues and collaborators to discuss key themes from Grube’s work.

Speakers 

Prof. Dr. René van Woudenberg
Hoogleraar Epistemologie en Metafy sica, Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (emeritu s) | Head (wetenschappelijk directeur), School voor Religie en Theolo gie, VU | Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy (2007-2013) | Dean of the Faculty of Humanities (2024-2025) | PI in Templeton World Foundation projects on scientism, the epistemic responsibility of the universit y and on epistemic progress.
Research areas: Epi stemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of the Hum anities, Thomas Reid, common sense philosophy 

Pro f. Dr. Dr. Werner Schüßler
Chair Philosophy, Faculty o f Theology/University of Trier (emeritus) | Co-)author/(co-)editor of more than 400 publications (including 70 books) | Vice-President of “German Paul-Tillich-Society”.
Research areas: Paul Tillich, Karl Jaspers, Viktor E. Frankl, G. W. Leibniz, philo sophical anthropology, existential philosophy, metaphysics, philosoph y of religion, theodicy, disability studies 

Prof. Dr. Gijsbert van den Brink
Professor of Theology and Sc ience, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Extraordinary Researcher, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Head of Department Beliefs & Practices, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2016-2021) | University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2015 2020).
Research Areas: Christian dogmatic s, science & religion, Reformed theology, philosophy of science, philosophy of religion 

Prof. Dr. Sami Pihlström< /strong>
Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Faculty of Theology /University of Helsinki, Finland | Director of the Research Council o f Finland Centre of Excellence, "Meliorist Philosophy of Sueering" (2 026-2033) | President of the Philosophical Society of Finland (2016-2 024) | Vice-President of Institut International de Philosophie.
< strong>Research areas: pragmatism, realism, ethics, metaphys ics, philosophy of religion, transcendental philosophy, philosophical anthropology 

Prof. Dr. Jeroen de Ridder
University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Profes sor of Political Epistemology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanit ies, VU | Vice-Dean of Research of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Chair of the revision committee for the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity 2026.
Research ar eas: Social and political epistemology, philosophy of scienc e, philosophy of religion 

Prof. Dr. Dion Forster< /strong>
University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Professor of Public Theology and Ethics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Extraordinary Professor, Faculty of Theology, S tellenbosch University | Research Fellow, Wesley House, Cambridge UK | President of the Global Network for Public Theology
Res earch Areas: Public Theology, Theological Ethics, New Testam ent Ethics, African and Decolonial Thought  

Prof. Dr. Nicola Slee
Former Director of Research, The Queen� ��s Foundation/Birmingham | Professor emerita, Feminist Practical The ology, Faculty of Religion & Theology, VU | Honorary Professorial research fellow, The Queen’s Foundation/Birmingham| Visiting profe ssor, University of Chester |Honorary Vice-President, WATCH (Women an d the Church)
Research areas: feminist practical theology, spirituality, poetics, aging

DESCRIPTION: Philosophy and theology - how are they related to each ot her? How can one be a full-fledged theologian and a responsible philo sopher? The theologian/philosopher Paul Tillich famously worked at th e ‘border’ between philosophy and theology. The work of Dirk-Mart in Grube is also characterized by bringing theology into conversation with Anglo-American philosophy, particularly epistemology and ethics . In advance of his valedictory lecture (1 October 2026, 3:45 p.m., a ula, VU), this conference brings together colleagues and collaborator s to discuss key themes from Grube’s work.

Speakers 

Prof. Dr. René van Woudenberg
Hoogleraar Epistemologie en Metafysica, Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (emeritus) | Head (wetenschappelijk directeur), School voor Religie en Theologie, VU | Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy (2007-2013) | De an of the Faculty of Humanities (2024-2025) | PI in Templeton World F oundation projects on scientism, the epistemic responsibility of the university and on epistemic progress.
Research areas: Epistemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy o f the Humanities, Thomas Reid, common sense philosophy  Prof. Dr. Dr. Werner Schüßler
Chair Philosophy, Facult y of Theology/University of Trier (emeritus) | Co-)author/(co-)editor of more than 400 publications (including 70 books) | Vice-President of “German Paul-Tillich-Society”.
Research areas: Paul Tillich, Karl Jaspers, Viktor E. Frankl, G. W. Leibniz, ph ilosophical anthropology, existential philosophy, metaphysics, philos ophy of religion, theodicy, disability studies  Prof. Dr . Gijsbert van den Brink
Professor of Theology and Scien ce, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Extraordinary Res earcher, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Head of Department Beliefs & Practices, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (20 16-2021) | University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2 015 2020).
Research Areas: Christian dogmatics, science & religion, Reformed theology, philosophy of science, phi losophy of religion  Prof. Dr. Sami Pihlström
Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Faculty of Theology/Universi ty of Helsinki, Finland | Director of the Research Council of Finland Centre of Excellence, "Meliorist Philosophy of Sueering" (2026-2033) | President of the Philosophical Society of Finland (2016-2024) | Vi ce-President of Institut International de Philosophie.
Re search areas: pragmatism, realism, ethics, metaphysics, phil osophy of religion, transcendental philosophy, philosophical anthropo logy  Prof. Dr. Jeroen de Ridder
University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Professor of Politica l Epistemology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Vice- Dean of Research of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Chair of the revision committee for the Netherlands Code of Conduc t for Research Integrity 2026.
Research areas: S ocial and political epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy o f religion  Prof. Dr. Dion Forster
Universi ty Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Professor of Public Theology and Ethics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Extraordinary Professor, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch Universit y | Research Fellow, Wesley House, Cambridge UK | President of the Gl obal Network for Public Theology
Research Areas: Public Theology, Theological Ethics, New Testament Ethics, African a nd Decolonial Thought   Prof. Dr. Nicola Slee < br>Former Director of Research, The Queen’s Foundation/Birmingham | Professor emerita, Feminist Practical Theology, Faculty of Religion & Theology, VU | Honorary Professorial research fellow, The Queen ’s Foundation/Birmingham| Visiting professor, University of Chester |Honorary Vice-President, WATCH (Women and the Church)
R esearch areas: feminist practical theology, spirituality, po etics, aging Conference on the occasion of the valedictory lecture of Dirk-Martin Grube END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR