Theology and Religious Studies: Spirituality and Religion

In today’s globalised world, there is a growing presence of spiritual practices and ideas alongside more traditional forms of religion. Practitioners have access to a vast reservoir of spiritual traditions and schools, such as Yoga, Reiki, Sufism, Kabbalah, Anthroposophy, Christian mysticism, and various new religious movements, which they can follow or take inspiration from for their own individual trajectories. There seems to be growing room for creativity and personalisation of religious ideas, beliefs, and practices. How are we to make sense of this development? In this Master’s programme you will study the changing role of religion and spirituality in contemporary societies and their historical roots. As a student in this programme, you will learn to conduct research from a critical perspective, to work with various kinds of primary sources, and to present your results in an elaborate, coherent way. Upon completion of the programme, you will have a firm grasp of the historical roots of spirituality and the changing role of religion in society. You can use this expertise and related skills in your future careers in such fields as research, policy, education, or in the cultural sector.

The University of Amsterdam (UvA), founded in 1632, is one of Europe's largest research universities with over 35,000 students. Located in the vibrant heart of Amsterdam, it's renowned for social sciences, humanities, and business programs. Ranked #53 worldwide and known for its progressive academic culture.