This tradition of doing theology rooted in the Swiss Reformation intends to be world-transformative. Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck serve as excellent examples of this ethos, but many leading theologians from the contemporary Reformed and evangelical world might be mentioned as well. The Center mainly promotes constructive theology with a strong historical anchoring, but it also fosters work in biblical, historical, philosophical, and practical theology with a focus on or from within the Reformed tradition.
The Center aims at pursuing its goal mainly in the following ways:
- through the specialization track ‘Reformed and Evangelical Theology’ in the postgraduate degree programs of the Faculty of Religion and Theology: the one-year Master of Theology, the two-year Research Master, and the Graduate School for doctoral studies (cf. below);
- through participating with distinctive modules in the international English-language bachelor-program in theology and religious studies;
- through annual conferences (usually in June) with both internal and external PhD-students during which work-in-progress is discussed;
- through monthly meetings of its members in a research group, where dialogue and cross-fertilization on running projects is stimulated;
- through close cooperation with the International Reformed Theological Institute and participation in its biannual international scholarly conferences;
- through the provision of hospitality to visiting scholars who study aspects of Reformed and/or evangelical theology;
- through the promotion of cutting-edge scholarly research on issues related to Reformed and evangelical theology.
Specialisation in Reformed Theology in the one or two year master programme
The activities of the Center include the specialization ‘Reformed and Evangelical Theology’ within the one year master ‘Exploring a Discipline’ and within the two year research master programme at VU. Every year, at least two modules specializing in Reformed theology will be offered in both programmes. Further specialization is obtained through a research internship carried out under the supervision of one of the associated staff members of the Center as well as through the master thesis with which you conclude the programme.
Director
Professor H. van den Belt
E: h.vandenbelt@vu.nl
Postal address:
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Faculty of Religion and Theology
De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands