Chair of Ethics and Spirituality

The first professor to hold the chair of Ethics at Utrecht Theological University (formerly Kampen) was Jochem Douma. He gave this chair a broad national and international reputation. In 1998, Ad de Bruijne (born 1959) succeeded him, first as a university lecturer and, since 2008, as a full professor. On that occasion, the chair’s designation was broadened to “Ethics and Spirituality.”

Prof. dr. Ad de Bruijne

The field of ethics focuses on reflection on the designation of the good life and on the boundary between good and evil in lifestyle. This also occurs in philosophy and various disciplines, but within theology, this reflection is seen in the light of the knowledge of God and his works and words. Within this theological perspective, philosophy and other sciences are indeed integrated. Ethics concerns the major social themes of our time, but equally the daily choices in personal life. It covers ecology, social inequality and justice, war and peace, and technology, but also spending, community building, nutrition, medical-ethical choices, and relationship issues. Urgent practical issues from the church and society are also regularly presented to the chair.

Areas of Focus

A core of the chair’s research concerns societal questions and the responsibility of the church and Christians in these matters. Therefore, there is a strong focus on public theology and political theology.

A second area of ​​focus lies in the domain of relationship formation and sexuality. There has been reflection on questions surrounding marriage, cohabitation, and divorce. Publications have appeared on homosexuality and gender. A PhD program is also focused on this latter theme.

A third area of ​​focus relates to recent developments in Artificial Intelligence and the transhumanist and posthumanist ideals and risks often associated with it. In this latter respect, a cross-connection is established with research on gender and also with current ecological challenges.

In addition, there are a number of smaller areas of focus: ethical hermeneutics (particularly the question of how the eschatological kingdom of God guides ethics), office ethics, and the spirituality of the office-bearer.

The Chair of Ethics and Spirituality is affiliated with the Neo-Calvinism Research Institute. This means that when addressing these areas of focus, the potential implications of the thinking of Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, and later Neo-Calvinists are always considered. This has resulted in numerous publications that contribute to the continuation and renewal of the Neo-Calvinist tradition and its dialogue with other theological movements.