General objectives:
To research into the relationship between religious and pastoral experience, contemporary thought and Theology.
Specific objectives:
The Graduate Program in Theology focuses on Systematic Theology and is divided into two lines of research: “Theology and religious and pastoral experience” and “Theology and contemporary thinking”. Its goal is to develop research skills aiming to produce teachers of Theology; improve pastoral reflection and praxis; enable a connection between faith and reason and science and religion in schools, universities, the media and society. As a graduate-level program at the university and in the country, PUCRS’ Theology Program employs its own methodology for researching themes that are relevant to the communities of faith and to society in accordance with its public and ecclesial vocation.
PUCRS’ Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Theology are justified by the need to prepare teachers for Theology seminars and schools in the southern region of Brazil; by the relevance of investigations that revisit the pastoral praxis and the formation of professionals capable of collaborating to the connection between faith and reason, science and religion in the academia, university, media and society. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul there are several training programs in Theology linked to the Catholic Church.
To qualify the education in Theology, it is necessary to enhance research. Such a challenge is met by the Master’s and Doctoral Programs, where the opportunities for furthering theological reflection are intensified in view of the public relevance that theology has today. The Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Theology are not only justified by the need for Theology teachers in seminars and schools, but also by an increasing need for evangelistic actions without improvisation, an action that follows a method and is capable of being assessed by certain criteria and guidelines. Such commitment depends on research, exchanges and reflections. The pastoral of the Church is enriched by academic methods and tools, since the university welcomes the experience of the communities, reflects on this action and suggests ways of improving pastoral praxis. The Master’s and Doctoral degrees, therefore, have an immediate social impact, since they provide qualified training for Theology professionals for a new type of action in their communities. The opportunities to reflect on the relationship between faith and reason, science and religion are growing. The function of religion as the structurer of life in the West and in the East has brought about many discussions, controversies, and reactions. Either promoting peace and justice or provoking wars and terrorism, religions are constantly on the media. Theologians must provide the general public with information for judging challenges and religions. Catholic theologians must provide deeper insights into the affirmations of the Church when facing the different challenges of contemporary society. Preparing people capable of connecting with the modern world, by presenting the identity of the Christian faith and contributing to the formation of a just and fellow society is also a mission of Theology research.