(Protestant) Theology—What Is It, Anyway?

Theology (Greek: θεολογία) is the study or discourse of God—but what exactly is being examined here, given that God eludes direct scientific inquiry?

Christianity is a religion with a history spanning over 2,000 years and roots in Judaism. In one of its subfields, Biblical Theology, you have the opportunity to learn more about the origins, historical context, and theological diversity of the Bible. For example, how does the Pentateuch (the Five Books of Moses) describe the experiences of the people of Israel with God? What do the Gospels and Paul say about Jesus Christ as the Son of God? And how are the individual texts actually connected—since they are all gathered together in the Bible?

People have been grappling with the question of how these statements apply to life as a Christian since the very beginnings of Christianity. In Church History , you ’ll explore the development of Christian communities and their theology from antiquity through the Reformation to the present day. The interpretation of and engagement with biblical statements at different points in history sheds light on many aspects of faith, theology, and the Church that may surprise you and help you better understand the historical background of much Christian doctrine, as well as the distinctive characteristics of Christianity in comparison with other religions.

But what does this mean for Christians today? How can the questions and answers of the Bible be connected to the present, and what can we learn from the ideas and experiences of past eras? In Systematic Theology, you will explore how various Christian concepts—such as the concepts of sin and salvation —can be understood today by examining how these concepts—for example, in the writings of Paul, Luther, and Schleiermacher—were expressed in (linguistic) imagery and in what ways they can still resonate with people today. Perhaps there are old images that can be revitalized, or even new points of connection that bring the Christian tradition to life in a completely different way—for example, in films!

But how can religious content be conveyed? Whether in school, in adult education, in the congregation, or perhaps even in the media: it’s not just the tone that makes the music—the content must also be appropriate and adapted to the communication context and learning prerequisites. The foundation for practical implementation is always the theoretical reflection on learning and teaching processes. In Religious Education — part of Practical Theology—you’ll learn how to achieve this and what factors to consider. Here, you’ll also have the opportunity to gain insight into other religions.