Historical and Systematic Theology

Historical & Systematic Theology at Oxford explores Christianity in its multi-faceted expressions through time, geography, and culture. Ecumenical in nature, research within the faculty engages perspectives across the Protestant, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. Attention is also given to contemporary voices in postcolonial theology, black theology, feminist theology, eco-theology, and beyond. The study of Historical & Systematic Theology gives students bearings for understanding a contemporary world still grappling with religious discourse. 

Research Centres & Projects

The Centre for Modern European Thought

The Faculty of Theology & Religion is proud to host this centre promoting the interdisciplinary study of the relationships between theology and other areas of intellectual life. It also exists to provide a resource for teaching in this area, both in theology and in other disciplines.

 

The MacDonald Centre for Ethics and Public Life

The McDonald Centre fosters conversation both between Christian theology and other disciplines, and between academia and those who shape public deliberation and policy. Based at the Faculty of Theology & Religion in the University of Oxford, the Centre is generously supported by the McDonald Agape Foundation.

 

Spiritual Understanding in a Secular Age: Engaging Art as Religious Ritual

In partnership with the Australian Catholic University, Prof Graham Ward is working on this project exploring the liturgical dimensions of art. This project is generously funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Community

The sense that theology is a communal venture drives the emphasis on gathering and dialoguing found in this subject area. The fortnightly graduate research seminar is the touchpoint for the Historical and Systematic Theology community; hosted at the house of Prof Graham Ward, meetings are often following by a reception with drinks and nibbles. Opportunities to connect are also provided by seminars at Campion (where graduate students are particularly welcome to present work), the annual Wilde, Bampton, Hensley-Henson and Ptarmigan lectures, and purely social occasions like garden parties and barbeques. Students often organically create their own offshoots in the form of reading groups and language classes.