Mission Statement
The Religion and Theology Department situates itself within the Reformed tradition of Protestantism, while also being open to the distinctive strengths of other traditions of historic Christianity. The department explores in an academic way the biblical story of the history of redemption, as it is unified in Jesus Christ, and the implications of that story for a Christian worldview, the various disciplines of Christian theology, and the academic study of other religions. Central to that exploration is an emphasis on the all-embracing scope of creation, fall and redemption, and their integral relevance for all of human life.
The courses draw the students’ attention to the ultimate religious commitments which all humans hold, which often influence men and women through various philosophies and ideologies.
While rooted in the Reformed tradition of Christianity, the department cultivates an attitude of sympathetic critical engagement with the history of Christian reflection and the contemporary religious situation. The goal is to help students become intellectually mature Christians who are well informed about their faith and its relevance for the modern world.
The increasingly diverse Christian student population at Redeemer has re-enforced Gene's belief that the teaching of ethics must be approached within a certain tradition; otherwise ethics becomes eclectic and incoherent.