Trinity College Dublin - Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies

Course Overview/Contact:

Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies integrates a variety of theological and other disciplines in order to explore significant and complex relationships within and between religious communities and their traditions. These fields of study attend closely to the connections and tensions experienced as the religions encounter alternative social, political and cultural resources of meaning and identity. This course focuses on the practical and theoretical possibilities posed by intercultural dialogue, and on the challenges of sustaining communities in which the praxis of peace and reconciliation with others is given concrete embodiment.

A variety of modules is offered each year, drawn from the list below.  A module on Research and Methods is compulsory; students select a further 5 modules for assessment and write a dissertation. 

Modules:

Authority, Tradition, Experience: Ecumenics as Intercultural Theology

World Christianity and Interreligious Dialogue

Comparative Theology:  Meaning and Practice

Religions and Ethics in a Pluralist World

Nature, Grace and the Triune God

NGOs in Theory and Practice

Developing Doctrine: Identity and Change in Christian Tradition

Interpreting Ecumenical Ecclesiology

An Ecumenics of Loss: Religion, Modernity and Reconciliation

Creation, Cosmology and Ecotheology

Engaging Religious Fundamentalism

Translating God(s)

Christian Seeds in Indic Soil : Christianity in South Asia

The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque: Christianity in the World of Islam

On Being Human: Theological Anthropology in Cross-cultural Perspective

The Many Faces of Jesus: Christology and Cultures

Comparative/Interreligious Ethics

Cross-cultural Ministry and Interreligious Encounter

Muslim God, Christian God: Islam and Muslim-Christian Comparative Theology

Hindu God, Christian God: Hinduism and Hindu-Christian Comparative Theology

Judaism and Jewish-Christian Relations

Issues in Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

Reconciliation in Northern Ireland Religion, Conflict and Peace in International Relations

Teaching takes places in Dublin over two terms. A one term, non-degree course of study is available which is ideal for those on sabbatical, or who prefer a shorter period of study. There is also the option of attending single modules.  Modules from the M.Phil. in International Peace Studies and the M.Phil. in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation are also open to students on the M.Phil. in Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies. Students seeking to be assessed for their work on a module in either of the two other programmes must first secure the permission of the relevant course coordinators.  

Dissertation: A research dissertation (15,000 – 20,000 words) to be supervised by an appropriate member of staff and to be submitted by 20 August.

Career Opportunities:

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Course Url

http://www.tcd.ie/ise/postgraduate/theology-interreligious-studies.php

Course Coordinator

Prof. Jude Lal Fernando

Telephone Number

+353-1-8964771

Fax Number

+353-1-6725024

Course Email

ecumsec@tcd.ie

Next Intake

September 2017

Closing Date

30th June 2017

Entry Requirements:

Applicants should normally have an honors degree at second class level or GPA 3.2 or above. Students not meeting these criteria may exceptionally be considered at the discretion of the Dean of Graduate Studies.