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 good life and on the boundary between good and evil. Ethics is also part of philosophy and various disciplines, but in theology, this reflection is seen in the light of the knowledge of God and his works and words. At the same time, theological ethics exists in a continuous dialogue with philosophy and other scientific fields. Ethics concerns not only the major social themes of our time, but also daily choices in personal life and the community life of the church. It covers ecology, social inequality and justice, war and peace, technology, spending, community building, nutrition, medical-ethical choices, and relationship issues. The chair is regularly asked to address urgent questions that arise in the church and society.

Areas of Focus

A core of the chair’s research concerns societal questions and the public responsibility of the church and Christians. There is a 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 concerns 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 current ecological challenges. 

In addition, there are smaller areas of focus: ethical hermeneutics (particularly the question of how the eschatological kingdom of God guides ethics), professional ethics and spirituality for ministers and church workers, and economical ethics. 

The Chair of Ethics and Spirituality is affiliated with the Neo-Calvinism Research Institute. This means that, if possible, when addressing these areas of focus, interaction takes place with the thoughts of Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, and later Neo-Calvinists. This has resulted in publications that continue and renew the Neo-Calvinist tradition and its dialogue with other theological movements.