Prof. dr. Tomas Halik - Does Society Need Scruples? - Lecture Theology and Religious Studies

2016 Annual Lecture Master's Program Christianity and Society, Theology and Religious Studies - Tilburg University. https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/macs/ Prof. dr. Thomas Halik is a Czech Roman Catholic priest, philosopher, theologian and scholar. He is the author of numerous books on the matter of religion and spirituality and also a recipient of numerous awards and prizes in this field. He is one of the most influential theologians of this age and in the Netherlands especially known for his last book Patience with God: doubt as a bridge between believing and non-believing. Halik has an appealing message for both believers and atheists. Prof. Halik speaks about the welfare state having poignant contrasts: wealth and abundance for a small group versus an increasing number of people living below the poverty line. We leave behind a soil for generations after us, which is too hot and suffering under extreme conditions. Churches run empty, while spiritual centers bloom and monasteries receive more and more guests for retreats. There is a need for a new pastoral message of hope: a theological language that allows dialogue with both secular atheists and Islam. The social doctrine of the Church can lead us to a society based on equality and solidarity. This Annual Lecture is part of the Master's Program Christianity and Society (Theology and Religious Studies). This Master's Program aims at offering students from all over the world deeper insights in the connection between Christianity and society. The study environment is informal and personal. In the courses offered, students learn to reflect critically upon the place of Christianity in the public space and the concomitant conflicts and tensions that arise in the dialogue and confrontation with both (post)modern society and (world) religions. This focus on connecting theology and religion’s sources from the past with current socio-economic and political issues provides students a unique opportunity to prepare for a professional (NGOs, government policy) or academic career, or to deepen their current knowledge of the connection between theology and society.