Guidelines for Writing a Thesis

Faculty of Theology
VU University Amsterdam,
January 2011

Dr A.W. Zwiep
Updated and revised by Prof. M.C. de Boer 3/1/2011
Chapter 4 updated on 11/1/2011
(with thanks to J. de Roos, subject librarian for theology, VU University Library).
Updated and revised by Dr E. van Staalduine-Sulman 5/11/2013
Chapter 4 updated on 20/12/2013
(with thanks to J. de Roos, subject librarian for theology, VU University Library).

Abstract
In this manual guidelines and practical suggestions are given to assist Theology and R&L students in
writing a thesis. It includes a discussion of formal and methodological criteria, various modes of
argumentation, principles on how to structure the thesis and how to process written and digital
sources, how to conduct a literature search in the available databases on the topic of the students
specialization, how to create appropriate references and bibliographies, and how to write a thesis
proposal.

Contents
Abbreviations...........................................................................................................4
1.
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4

Introduction ........................................................................................................5
General Remarks ...............................................................................................................5
Thesis Proposal .................................................................................................................5
Further Conditions for a Successful Completion of the Thesis.........................................5
Recommended Literature ..................................................................................................5

2.
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4

2.5
2.6

From Research Area to Thesis Topic ...............................................................6

What is a Research Area and a Thesis Topic? .......................................................................6
Formulating your Topic as a Research Question ...................................................................6
Formulating your Topic as a Problem to be Researched........................................................6
Types of Research Questions .................................................................................................6
2.4.1
Descriptive .............................................................................................................6
2.4.2
Explanatory ............................................................................................................7
2.4.3
Evaluative ...............................................................................................................7
2.4.4
Predictive / prognostic ............................................................................................7
2.4.5
Propositional ...........................................................................................................7
The Research Question and Subsidiary Questions............................................................8
A Checklist for Thesis Topics ................................................................................................8

3.
3.1
3.2
3.3

From Thesis Topic to Thesis Structure ............................................................9

Introduction and Conclusion .............................................................................................9
How to Structure a Thesis: A Method...............................................................................9
How to Structure Chapters ..............................................................................................10

4.
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4.
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9

Tracking Down Literature and Library Resources ......................................11

Library Catalogues ..........................................................................................................11
Search Engines ................................................................................................................11
Encyclopaedias and Dictionaries of Bible and Theology ...............................................12
Bible Software and Related Sources ...............................................................................12
Special Bibliographies ....................................................................................................12
Trustworthy Websites .....................................................................................................13
Searching in newspapers .................................................................................................13
Searching on the web ......................................................................................................13
Zoeken en sneller schakelen............................................................................................14

5.
5.1
5.2

Citing Authors and Referencing their Work .................................................15

Referencing Books and Articles in the Bibliography......................................................15
De opmaak van literatuur in bibliografie en voetnoten ...................................................16
Titles of Books ......................................................................................................17
Titles of Articles from Journals ............................................................................18
Titles of Articles from Collections, Encyclopaedia etc. .......................................19
Artikel (entry) in handboek of encyclopedie ........................................................19
Citing Authors .................................................................................................................20

5.2.1
5.2.2
5.2.3
5.2.4
5.3

5.3.1
5.3.2
5.4

Quoting .................................................................................................................20
Paraphrasing .........................................................................................................20
Abbreviations of Journals, Series, etc. ............................................................................21

6.
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5

Writing and Rewriting.....................................................................................22

Be Focused on the Whole ...............................................................................................22
Think Paragraph ..............................................................................................................22
Proportions ......................................................................................................................22
Writing Style ...................................................................................................................22
Spelling and Grammar ....................................................................................................23

7.

Appearance and Layout ...............................................................................................24

8.
8.1
8.2
8.3

For Further Reading and Consultation ..........................................................................25

For Theses and Papers in English ................................................................................................25
For Theses and Papers in Dutch ...................................................................................................25
Specialized Courses, Workshops and Websites ...........................................................................26

Bijlage 1 Lijst van eventuele scriptieonderwerpen............................................................................27

Abbreviations

Where possible, abbreviations have been those in Schwertner, Internationales Abkrzungsverzeichnis. 1

AnBib
AncB
AncBD
AncBRL
ANFa
NTS
NT
NT.S
SBL
etc.

Analecta biblica
Anchor Bible
Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. N. Freedman
Anchor Bible Reference Library
Ante-Nicene Fathers
New Testament Studies
Novum Testamentum
Supplements to Novum Testamentum
Society of Biblical Literature

Please note that this list of abbreviations is fictitious for illustration purposes only. Abbreviations of the
biblical writings or other often quoted religious sources should not be included in this list. A reference to the
source of abbreviations (e.g. SBL Handbook) suffices (Biblical writings and other classical sources have been
abbreviated according to the conventions of ...).

1.

Introduction

1.1 General Remarks

In the Bachelor of Theology and Religious Studies and in the Master of Theology and Religious
Studies programs you are required to write several papers (depending on your specialization and
subprogram) and a bachelors or masters thesis. The thesis completes the bachelors or masters
degree program as a whole. 2
In principle, the approach required for a thesis is no different from that for a paper. Of course, writing
a thesis requires more time, more discipline, a broader overview, more thinking and more reading but
this increase in the scale of your activities does not affect the heart of the matter. It is the heart of the
matter that these Guidelines seek to address. The sections that follow highlight the key moments in
writing a thesis.
1.2 Thesis Proposal
The facultys Thesis Regulations asks for a thesis proposal (Art. 2.1.1 and 2.1.2). The thesis proposal
should be about 1,000 words in length. The provisional bibliography involves a brief list of what are
probably the most relevant (influential/important) and recent titles for your topic. To compile this
initial bibliography, try to find a recent literature survey on your topic (a so-called Forschungsbericht)
or determine which authors or books dominate the current scholarly debate in your field. Consult, if
necessary, the experts in your field of research for recommendations.
1.3 Further Conditions for a Successful Completion of the Thesis
You need to have a sufficiently demarcated topic (see below), sufficient time for writing, thinking,
doing research in the library, etc. You should be realistic about the time and energy that you commit to
the writing of your thesis. A thesis is a highly individual project that cannot be measured in exact
credit hours. What counts is not the energy put into it, but the final result.
1.4 Recommended Literature
Baarda, B., Dit is onderzoek! (Groningen: Noordhoff Uitgevers, 2009)
Elbow, P., Writing with Power (2nd ed.; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998).
Turabian, K.L., A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (rev. ed. W.C.
Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.M. Williams; Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press, 72007) xviii +
466pp.
University of Chicago Press Staff (ed.), The Chicago Manual of Style. The Essential Guide for
Writers, Editors, and Publishers (Chicago, London: Chicago University Press, 1906, 162010)
xvii + 956pp.

See the criteria set out in the Scriptieregeling.

2.

From Research Area to Thesis Topic

2.1 What is a Research Area and a Thesis Topic?

The research area is the general subject area within which your discourse (thesis) will be located.
Examples of research areas are the Reformation, Prayer, or the relationship between Buddhism and
Hinduism. Choosing a research area does not mean that you have selected a topic since a topic
involves focusing your attention on a particular, narrow aspect of the larger research area. This might
be one or more thinkers, an important theological document, a biblical theme in a particular religious
book, a school of thought or one or more concepts. Make sure that you choose a topic that is of
genuine interest to you and that is manageable (doable) within the confines of a thesis.7 A thesis is
not a doctoral dissertation!
2.2 Formulating the Topic as a Problem to be Researched
Once you have narrowed down your research area into a topic, you have to formulate the problem of
the topic. You have to explain that research into this topic is relevant for a certain religious group
and/or for our society. You have to explain that no satisfying answers have been given in the past or
that our times ask for new answers.
2.3 Formulating the Topic as a Research Question
Once you have formulated the problem, it will be helpful at an early stage to cast it in the form of a(n
answerable) research question. This will give your research a discernible direction and a goal. It will
also help the reader to follow your argument once you are ready to write up your research. In practice,
you should follow these steps:
(1) decide on a carefully circumscribed topic;
(2) do some initial reading on your chosen topic;
(3) formulate the problem and its relevance for today;
(4) formulate your topic as a research question.
It is only after you have done some initial reading on your topic that you can usefully formulate a
research question. This research question, which you may have to refine at a later stage, helps you to
make a proper start with your research. You can now focus your efforts.
2.4 Types of Research Questions
Topics can be formulated as different types of research questions. There are five main types within the
disciplines of theology and religion studies (in practice, there may be some overlap and in some cases
they are just alternative possibilities):
2.4.1 Descriptive
A descriptive research question involves the question, What is ? For example, What does the
notion of myth mean in the early work of Rudolf Bultmann? or, What is the function of Diwali in
India? What is questions are interesting if the concept in question is theoretically relevant and/or if
there is some kind of difference of opinion or ambiguity about the concept.

On the theme of this chapter and for a slightly different approach, see also K.L. Turabian, A Manual
for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (rev. ed. W.C. Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.M.
Williams; Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press, 72007) 1223 (Moving from a Topic to a
Question to a Working Hypothesis).

2.4.2 Explanatory
An explanatory research question involves the question, Why ? For example, What reasons did
Plato have for excluding artists from his ideal state? When it comes to why questions, try to look
further than one reason: there are psychological, social, historical, philosophical, religious reasons and
so on.
2.4.3 Evaluative
The evaluative research question involves the question What is the value of ? e.g., Can the
interpretation of Anselms ontological proof of Gods existence given by Karl Barth in his Fides
quaerens intellectum stand the critical test? or, Is the method for Old Testament exegesis by Eep
Talstra of value for exegesis of the Quran?
2.4.4 Predictive / prognostic
Empirical research regularly deals with prognostic research questions: how will certain phenomena
change or how will people react to changing circumstances. These prognostic questions can vary from
very practical (How many members will this church have in 2040?) to conceptual (How will Dutch
Muslims interpret the word jihad over the next ten years?).
2.4.5 Propositional
A last possibility is to cast the topic in the form of proposition or a working hypothesis. The
proposition states a thesis that the author will investigate in order to demonstrate its validity. For
example, The notion of charity in Buddhism differs from the one in Hinduism, or The reformation
idea of the husband/father as priest of the family changed fundamentally during the twentieth
century. Note, however, that the evaluative type and the proposition are closely related: they only
differ in terms of direction. An evaluative text works towards a (propositional) conclusion, while a
propositional text takes the conclusion as a given, as it were. Moreover, a working hypothesis can
always be cast in the form of a question (Is the notion of charity in Buddhism different from the one
in Hinduism?) and students are advised to formulate their topic as a research question.
Note also that these types of research questions all build on the descriptive type to a certain extent: you
cannot offer an explanation, provide an evaluation or support a proposition without giving
descriptions. But in the case of a descriptive thesis it is your aim to describe a certain phenomenon or
theory, while in other cases the descriptions are there to serve the purpose of your explanation, your
evaluation or the argument in support of your proposition. For example, in the research problem
defined under the evaluative type, you will of course have to describe what charity in Buddhism and
Hinduism entails, including the similarities and differences, but you will do so within the framework
of an evaluation.
It is essential to be aware of the nature of your research question. A descriptive research question calls
for a different set-up and tone than an evaluative topic. Guard as much as possible against the danger
of drifting from one type of question to another as your text proceeds. Remain true to the nature of
your main research question as you write. If you yourself have trouble working out how a particular
chapter or section relates to the main research question, your reader is sure to have the same problem.

2.5 The Research Question and Subsidiary Questions

When writing a thesis, thorough preparation is essential. Your topic or main research question will
inevitably involve answering a number of subsidiary questions. This process can be characterized as
exploring your main research question (topic); it is often useful to deal with the subsidiary questions in
consecutive chapters. For example a student who decides to tackle the evaluative question about
Anselms proof of Gods existence and Kants criticism on it in a thesis might ask the following
subsidiary questions, among others:

What is a proof of Gods existence?

What is an ontological proof of Gods existence?
How exactly does Anselms ontological proof of Gods existence work?
What is the philosophical and/or religious motivation for, or background to, Anselms proof?
What are the general points of criticism of Anselms ontological proof of Gods existence?
What is the exact nature of Kants criticism?
What is the philosophical and/or religious motivation for, or background to, Kants position?
[etc.]

2.6 A Checklist for Thesis Topics

Check the following questions before you decide that you have stated your research question:
Is the topic narrow enough to be manageable for a thesis?
Is the topic formulated as a single, coherent, clear, and answerable question?
Can it be answered by established academic methods and criteria?
Are the subsidiary questions clear and unambiguous?
Are they relevant to the topic (the main research question)?
Can they be answered by established academic methods and criteria?

3.

From Thesis Topic to Thesis Structure

The structure of your text should be clear and insightful. Produce an overview of the content at an
early stage, consisting preferably of (provisional) chapter titles, section titles and subsections. Keep
your main research question in sharp focus while you do this. In principle, each text has a beginning, a
middle and an end. Depending on the nature of your research problem definition, this three-way
division will usually take one of the following forms:
3.1 Introduction and Conclusion
The introduction contains:
a statement describing the topic and its importance;
a formulation of the topic as a research question;
an indication of the way in which the research question is going to be answered: What methods
and arguments will you use in your investigation?
if necessary, an explanation of key terms you plan to use;
a brief history of research can be incorporated into the opening chapter or be given a separate
chapter.
The end contains:
a recapitulation of the research question and the results of your investigation.
an indication of the potential value of your research for other academics.
Of course, the middle part contains the body of your paper or thesis. That is the section in which you
are required to substantiate your formulation of the research question in a series of stages, with
recourse to the literature you have studied.
3.2 How to Structure a Thesis: A Method
Once you have chosen a topic and defined it, formulated the subsidiary questions, and established your
approach, it is relatively easy to create a thesis structure, if you apply the following procedure. The
constituent parts of your research project are:
Topic
Topic as Research Question
Subsidiary Question 1
Subsidiary Question 2
Subsidiary Question 3
Subisidiary Question 4
Approach (Methodology)
Brief History of Research (with provisional
bibliography)
Logically, the part on approach (methodology) follows the statement of your topic and the subsidiary
questions. In your thesis, however, you need to discuss the approach (methodology) in the
9

introduction. The brief history of research can be taken up into the introduction or given a separate
chapter (it depends on how extensive this history, or Forschungsbericht, is). Furthermore, your thesis
will conclude with summary and conclusions, and your provisional bibliography will be a (definitive)
bibliography. With these remarks in mind, you can easily work these points over into a table of
contents:
Topic

> Title (and Subtitle)

Topic as Research Question

> Introduction

Subsidiary Question 1

> Chapter 1

Subsidiary Question 2

> Chapter 2

Subsidiary Question 3

> Chapter 3

Subsidieary Question 4

> Chapter 4

Approach (Methodology)

> Summary and Conclusions

Brief History of Research (with bibliography) > Bibliography

3.3 How to Structure Chapters

When writing, you may apply the same method for structuring the individual chapters: title,
introduction, sections, summary and conclusions.
NB. Chapters may be divided into sections and subsections (Dutch: paragrafen en subparagrafen),
sections may be divided into paragraphs (alineas).

10

4.

Tracking Down Literature and Library Resources

When assigning a paper, the lecturer who will grade it usually indicates the (secondary) literature that
has to be consulted. For the thesis, you are required to do your own research.10 Once again take your
topic as a basis and subdivide it into a number of search terms (e.g. a concept, the title of a theological
work, the name of a biblical scholar or a school of thought) and use these as a basis for consulting:
4.1 Library Catalogues
First try the VU Library catalogue at http://cat.ubvu.vu.nl/webopac/.
Through the website of www.worldcat.com you have access to national libraries and university
libraries from all over the world.
In PiCarta (http://www.ub.vu.nl/nl/index.asp with your VU-net-ID), the national catalogue of the
Netherlands, you have access to the collections of all Dutch university libraries and main regional
libraries.
4.2 Search Engines
In practice, the next step will be to consult digital resources such as the ATLA Religion Database
which is especially important for scholars of theology and religion. This database and others can be
located in various ways on the site of the VU University Library (www.ubvu.vu.nl). A good way to
gain access to the electronic resources that are useful for scholars of theology and religion is to go to
the relevant academic discipline page (Search on subject via academic disciplines > Theology; Dutch:
zoek op onderwerp via vakgebieden > Godgeleerdheid):

ISI Web of Knowledge: rerouting to Web of Science

ATLA Religion Database
Encyclopedia of Religion: collection of encyclopedias
Index Islamicus Online: Brill editions

There are several other links to databases other than for theology and religious studies. These are
important for interdisciplinary topics:
PubMed for medical issues, but also for medical ethics, e.g. euthanasia; available via
http://www.ub.vu.nl/nl/index.asp > direct naar.
Rechtsorde for juridical issues, but also for Church jurisdiction within society, e.g. the
ownership of church buildings; available via http://www.ub.vu.nl/nl/index.asp > direct naar.
ScienceDirect for more exact sciences, but also for psychology, e.g. the relationship between
religion and health; available via http://www.ub.vu.nl/nl/index.asp > direct naar >
psychology.
Web of Science also for more exact sciences, but also for ethics, history, philosophy;
available via http://www.ub.vu.nl/nl/index.asp > direct naar. Possibility to see an abract or
the full text, if it is in the e-library of VU: click on full text > catalogue UL > the title of the ejournal > url
You can also search via the following link: http://www.ub.vu.nl/nl/index.asp, right side of the e-page.
You can search there in the entire e-Library, but also in parts and even in the theses of VU students.
10

See also K.L. Turabian, K.L., A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations
(rev. ed. W.C. Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.M. Williams; Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press,
7
2007) 2435.

11

Other possibilities are:

VU-DARE: repository open access publications VU
NARCIS: repository open access publications in the Netherlands
OAISTER: repository open access publications worldwide
You are strongly advised to create a personal RSS feeder,11 which will help you to keep informed
about new publications in your field.
4.3 Encyclopaedias and Dictionaries of Bible and Theology
These resources (some of them available online) help you to gain a brief impression of the state of
research on a given topic, and may be helpful in finding a suitable topic for your thesis. The following
dictionaries are listed in alphabetical order.
AncBD Freedman, D.N. (ed.), The Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992) 6
vols. Also online.
EKL
Fahlbusch, E., Lochman, J.M., et alii (Hrsg.), Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon.
Internationale theologische Enzyklopdie (Gttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,
1997) 5 Bde.
LThK4 Baumgartner, K., Buchberger, M., Kasper, W. (Hrsg.), Lexikon fr Theologie und
Kirche (Freiburg: Herder, 419932001) 11 Bde.
NIDB Sakenfeld, K.B. (ed.), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible (Nashville:
Abingdon, 2006-2009) 5 vols. (also available on CD-Rom).
4
Betz, H.D., et al. (Hrsg.), Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart (Tbingen:
RGG
Mohr Siebeck, 419982007), 8 Bde + Register. An English edition is also available:
Betz, H.D., et al. (Ed.), Religion Past and Present (Leiden: Brill, 2013), 13 Vols +
Index.
TRE
Krause, G., Mller, G. (Hrsg.), Theologische Realenzyklopdie (Berlin, New York:
Walter de Gruyter, 19762004), 37 Bde. Also online in e-resources www.ubvu.vu.nl
4.4.

Bible Software and Related Resources

ATLA Atla Religion Database, esp. Scripture Index
SESB Stuttgarter Electronic Study Bible / Stuttgarter Elektronische Studienbibel 1.0
BW 8.0 BibleWorks 8.0
LLT
Library of Latin Texts. Online in e-resources www.ubvu.vu.nl
TLG
Thesaurus Linguae Graecae. Online in e-resources www.ubvu.vu.nl
DBNL Search in http://www.dbnl.org/nieuws/hoogtepunten.php?l=6#6 for the text of first
prints of Dutch Bible translations

4.5 Special Bibliographies

DissAb Dissertation Abstracts. Now online: Proquest dissertations and theses
EBB
Elenchus bibliographicus of Biblica (orig. Elenchus of Biblical Bibliography). Online
in e-resources www.ubvu.vu.nl
IZBG
Internationale Zeitschriftenschau fr Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete.
International Review of Biblical Studies. Revue internationale des tudes bibliques
NTA
New Testament Abstracts. Online in e-resources www.ubvu.vu.nl
11

RSS formally stands for RDF (Resource Description Framework) Site Summary, colloquially for
Really Simple Syndication.

12

OTA
RThA
ThLZ
ZID

Old Testament Abstracts. Online in e-resources www.ubvu.vu.nl

Religious and Theological Abstracts
Theologische Literaturzeitung [www.thlz.de]
Zeitschrifteninhaltsdienst Theologie (Tbingen). Now available as Index theologicus
online in e-resources www.ubvu.vu.nl

4.6 Trustworthy Websites

Which websites give reliable information and which do not? There is no simple answer to this
question. But obviously you should never blindly trust information found on the Internet. Always
consider the origins of any site you are thinking of using. In principle, information from a university or
written by a renowned author known to publish in recognized journals is more reliable than
information from an isolated anonymous source.
NARCIS/ Digital Academic Repository (DARE) (access to Dutch Academic research results
online) www.darenet.nl/nl/page/language.view/home
DARE acces to academic online resources of the VU https://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/index.jsp
www.bsw.org (Biblical Studies on the Web)
www.ntgateway.com
www.religion-online.org
www.theology.de > Bibliographien & Onlinedokumenten (Kirche und Theologie im Web)
www.wikipedia.com
Make a personal database of bibliographic references (e.g. in Endnote) or draw up a list of works that
could prove useful. Make an initial selection (e.g. based on title, list of contents and a summary of the
work, if applicable). Present this selection to your thesis supervisor and work together with him or her
to compile a more or less definitive literature list.
Rank the works included in your literature list to some extent. Some will be so important to your thesis
that you will have to read them thoroughly. For texts like these, which form the basis of your research,
you may wish to make a thorough summary. Other works will be of less direct use to you and for these
a more general or selective reading will suffice. Take notes from these supporting works or make a
brief summary.
4.7 Searching in newspapers
There are several websites that offer databases of newspapers:
Search in http://academic.lexisnexis.eu/ for your subject in newspapers from 1980 to today.
www.delpher.nl (Koninklijke Bibliotheek: Dutch newspapers)
www.kranten-historisch.startpagina.nl (also international newspapers)
www.digibron.nl (reformed center of knowledge)
4.8 Searching on the Web
Some tips concerning searching on the web:
Remove all cookies from your computer.
Search with Google, Ilse, Yahoo, etc.: every search engine gives other results.
Search with Google, but select books.
Search via http://scholar.google.nl/ for articles.

13

4.9 Zoeken en sneller schakelen

(met dan aan NRC Special Slimmer zoeken op Internet, 9-10 februari 2013)
Toetscombinaties om te schakelen tussen programmas:
Alt + Tab = schakelen tussen programmas als je Alt-Tab vasthoudt, kun je met de muis
aanklikken waarheen je wilt.
Windows + d = toon het bureaublad; alle andere programmas en tabbladen worden
geminimaliseerd.
Tekens voor Google:
- (min-teken) = sluit het volgende uit: New -York = Zoek New maar sluit York uit. Let
op: voor het minteken een spatie, erna niet.
(dubbele aanhalingstekens) = zoek alleen paginas waarin de regel exact zo staat als tussen
de aanhalingstekens: domweg gelukkig in de dapperstraat.
.. (twee punten) = geef een numerieke waarde tussen x en y: overstroming 1950..1955 geeft
alle overstroming met het getal 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 of 1955 erbij.
* (asterisk) = vul de leegte in met een willekeurig woord: een dag niet * is een dag niet
geleefd geeft dit gezegde met gelachen of gegamed of wat dan ook op de plaats van de
asterisk.
** (dubbele asterisk) = vul de leegte in met meer willekeurige woorden: dat slaat als**op**.
Let op: met dubbele asterisken hoeven er geen spaties voor of na.
AROUND(n) = het ene woord in de nabijheid van het andere woord met hooguit n woorden
van elkaar verwijderd: paus AROUND(13) kruistocht = zoek een document waarin het woord
paus niet verder dan 13 woorden van het woord kruistocht is verwijderd.
define: = geef een woordenboek- of encyclopedische definitie van het volgende woord:
define:genocide of define:obama. Let op: het werkt goed in het Engels. Let op: voor of na de
dubbele punt geen spatie.
filetype: = geef het volgende in dit bestandsformaat: miljoenennota 2012 filetype:pdf.
site: = beperk de zoekopdracht tot deze website of dit domein: inburgeringstoets
site:rijksoverheid.nl of eredienst site:pkn.nl. Als je wilt beperken tot een land, doe dan site:nl
of site:de.
OR = zoek sites waarin of de ene of de andere voorkomt (of allebei): studiefinanciering OR
stufi of troonrede site:nrc.nl OR site:trouw.nl. Let op: het woord OR is ook te vervangen door |
zoals in studiefinanciering | stufi.
related: = zoek websites met thematisch verwant karakter. Als je zoekt op related:nrc.nl, krijg
je andere kranten zoals Trouw, Telegraaf, etc.
Combineer zoektermen. Als je zoekt naar hoe het spreekwoord dat slaat als een tang op een
varken nog meer gebruikt is, zoek dan slaat als een * op een * tang varken
Gebruik andere zoekmachines, zoals Yahoo en Ilse.
Om databanken te zoeken: combineer databank of database met de zoekterm. Of
combineer vind of find met de zoekterm.
Binnen websites kun je weer Ctrl + f gebruiken om binnen de opgezochte site naar een
bepaald woord te zoeken. Daarnaast verschijnt dan vorige en volgende om verder te
zoeken.
Specificeer bij Google of je op sites, blogs, boeken of andere dingen wil zoeken.

14

5.

Citing Authors and Referencing their Work

To cite authors means either to quote from their publications or to mention them by name in your
main text. The latter commonly occurs when you paraphrase or summarize their contributions to
scholarship, or make use of their ideas. You must reference all such citations. The verb to reference
here means to provide your thesis with references, that is, with full bibliographic information about the
authors you have cited (quoted, referred to, or borrowed from). Referencing occurs in footnotes and in
the bibliography provided at the end of your thesis.
5.1 Referencing Books and Articles in the Bibliography
In aansluiting op de gangbare internationale conventies word je geacht voor de verwerking van
bibliografische referenties de criteria van de 15e of 16e editie van The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)
toe te passen. 1 In CMS worden vrijwel alle denkbare kwesties die zich bij citeren voordoen besproken:
van het gebruik van hoofdletters, punten en kommas tot en met het ordenen van de gebruikte
literatuur in overzichtelijke bibliografien. CMS is in gedrukte versie en volledig online beschikbaar.
Vanwege de complexiteit van het citeerproces, met name wanneer je het hieronder genoemde AuteurTitel-systeem gebruikt, raden we alle studenten ten zeerste aan om zich een bibliografieprograma te
gebruiken en daarin als stijl Chicago te kiezen. Dan wordt het proces van het maken van verwijzingen
volledig geautomatiseerd. Programmas die we kunnen aanraden zijn EndNote en Reference Manager
of het gratis beschikbare Zotero (http://www.zotero.org). Endnote kun je als student tegen een gering
bedrag aanschaffen bij SurfSpot, evenals trouwens heel veel andere software. Endnote, Reference
Manager en Zotero zijn volledig compatibel met MS Word of LibreOffice. 2 In de praktijk kun je het
beste een voorbeeldbibliografie gebruiken om te zien hoe bepaalde kwesties worden opgelost. De
meest recente publicaties van uitgeverij Brill zijn in Chicago-stijl opgemaakt. Op de website van CMS
Online vind je een Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide.
Aan CMS is een digitale vraagbaak verbonden waarin vrijwel alle vragen over literatuurverwijzing
worden beantwoord (zie www.chicagomanualofstyle.org). Mocht blijken dat CMS geen antwoord
geeft op jouw specifieke vraag, dan geldt de regel van de consistentie: je kunt dan zelf een knoop
doorhakken en die dan (consistent) in je paper of scriptie toepassen. Voor de sectie
Bijbelwetenschappen wordt gebruikt gemaakt van The SBL Handbook of Style for Ancient, Near
Eastern, Biblical, and Early Christian Studies (zie www.sbl.org; gedrukte versie via Amazon.com).
Dit handboek is gebaseerd op CMS en toegespitst op het specifieke gebruik binnen de
Bijbelwetenschappen (in het bijzonder m.b.t. het citeren van primaire bronnen, het gebruik van
afkortingen enz.).
Let op! Er is oneindig veel discussie mogelijk over de gemaakte keuzes en ook op CMS is de nodige
kritiek te leveren. Het is slechts n van de manieren om je bibliografische gegevens ordelijk en
consistent weer te geven. Maar door de criteria consequent toe te passen kun je in ieder geval duidelijk
maken hoe zorgvuldig je te werk gaat.

The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 162010).

Zie de website van Endnote (www.endnote.com) en van UBVU. De VU-bibliotheek organiseert regelmatig
korte instructiecursussen (workshops) voor het werken met softwareprogrammas als Endnote en Reference
Manager.
2

15

5.2 De opmaak van literatuur in bibliografie en voetnoten

Voor het opmaken van een bibliografie (aan het einde van je paper of scriptie) en voor het opmaken
van literatuurverwijzingen in de voetnoten, heb je de hieronder genoemde informatie nodig. Welke
informatie precies hangt af van de vraag of het een boek (monografie), een tijdschriftartikel, een
bijdrage in een verzamelbundel of een artikel in een handboek of encyclopedie betreft:
(1)

Boek: naam van de auteur (initialen of voornaam + achternaam), titel + ondertitel, serie +
serienummer, plaats, naam van de uitgever, jaar van publicatie, druk.

(2)

Artikel: naam van de auteur (initialen of voornaam + achternaam), volledige titel van het
artikel, naam van het tijdschrift, volume-nummer + jaar van uitgave, eerste en laatste
paginanummer.

(3)

Bijdrage in een geredigeerde bundel: naam van de auteur (initialen of voornaam +

achternaam), volledige titel van de bijdrage, naam van de redacteur(s), titel + ondertitel van
het boek, serie + serienummer, plaats, naam van de uitgever, jaar van publicatie, druk, eerste
en laatste paginanummer.

(4)

Artikel (lemma/entry) in een handboek of encyclopedie: naam van de auteur (initialen of

voornaam + achternaam), volledige titel van het lemma/de entry, naam van de redacteur(s),
titel + ondertitel van het boek, serienummer, jaar van uitgave, eerste en laatste paginanummer.

De bibliografische informatie wordt in de bibliografie (aan het eind van je paper) anders verwerkt dan
in de voetnoten en de lopende tekst. Je kunt het beste beginnen met het opstellen van de bibliografie
en vervolgens de informatie in de voetnoten verwerken/omwerken. Hieronder volgt een aantal
voorbeelden van hoe literatuurverwijzingen er volgens de regels van CMS uitzien. Van elk van de
genoemde categorien (boek, tijdschriftartikel, hoofdstuk in een bundel, artikel in een handboek)
wordt drie of vier voorbeelden gegeven van de lay-out in de bibliografie, in de eerste voetnoot en een
de volgende voetnoten binnen hetzelfde hoofdstuk. Ook wordt het zgn. author-date system genoemd
dat vooral in de sociale wetenschappen gebruikt wordt (en ook in CMS opgenomen is). Welke van de
twee systemen je gebruikt, hangt af van de aard en omvang van je onderzoek en van de richtlijnen die
je van de begeleidend docent meekrijgt.
Tussen beide systemen moet worden gekozen voor n van beide, dat vervolgens consequent wordt
volgehouden. In bibliografiesoftware kun je die keuze maken door een stijl te kiezen, waarbij je
binnen Chicago kunt kiezen tussen auteur-jaar en voetnoot-volledige bibliografie (het hieronder
genoemde auteur-titel-systeem):
Het Auteur-jaar-systeem wordt gebruikt in de lopende tekst. Je verwijst als volgt:
(achternaam auteur, jaartal publicatie: paginanummer)
In de bibliografie geef je de volledige verwijzing op de volgende wijze:
Auteur, voornaam (jaartal publicatie). Titel publicatie. Plaats van uitgave: Uitgever.
N.B. Boektitel en ondertitel altijd cursief. Titels van artikelen daarentegen tussen
aanhalingstekens, maar de titels van de tijdschriften waarin deze artikelen verschijnen altijd
cursief.

16

 Het Auteur-Titel-systeem wordt gebruikt in de voetnoten of eindnoten. De rste keer dat een
bron wordt aangehaald in de voetnoot/eindnoot moeten alle gegevens volledig worden
vermeld, maar alle daaropvolgende keren alleen de achternaam, verkorte titel cursief,
paginanummer. Dus de rste keer: voornamen plus achternaam auteur, Titel publicatie.
Ondertitel publicatie, Plaats van uitgave: Uitgever, jaartal publicatie, paginanummer. Alle
daarop volgende keren: Achternaam, Verkorte Titel publicatie, paginanummer. Daarnaast
helemaal achteraan een bibliografie op de manier van de eerste keer.
N.B. boektitel en ondertitel altijd cursief. Titels van artikelen daarentegen tussen
aanhalingstekens, maar de titels van de tijdschriften waarin deze artikelen verschijnen altijd
cursief.
5.2.1 Boeken

Chicago (CMS)
Bibliografie (alfabetisch)

Caputo, John D. Radical Hermeneutics: Repetition, Deconstruction, and the Hermeneutic Project.
SPhEPh; Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1987.1
Israel, Jonathan I. Democratic Enlightenment: Philosophy, Revolution, and Human Rights 1750-1790.
Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.
Ricoeur, P. The Conflict of Interpretation: Essays in Hermeneutics. Edited by Don Ihde. New York
and London: Continuum, 1989, repr. 2004.
Robinson, James M., and Helmut Koester. Trajectories through Early Christianity. Philadelphia:
Fortress, 1971.
Voetnoot (eerste referentie in het hoofdstuk)
1
John D. Caputo, Radical Hermeneutics: Repetition, Deconstruction, and the Hermeneutic Project (SPhEPh;
Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1987), 56-67.
2
Paul Ricoeur, The Conflict of Interpretation: Essays in Hermeneutics (ed. Don Ihde; New York and London:
Continuum, 1989, repr. 2004), 73-76.
3
Jonathan I. Israel, Democratic Enlightenment: Philosophy, Revolution, and Human Rights 1750-1790 (Oxford,
New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), 140-171.
4
James M. Robinson and Helmut Koester, Trajectories through Early Christianity (Philadelphia: Fortress,
1971), 67-70.
Voetnoot (alle overige voetnoten binnen hetzelfde hoofdstuk):
5
Caputo, Radical Hermeneutics, 88.
6
Ricoeur, Conflict of Interpretation, 98; Israel, Democratic Enlightenment, 189.
7
Robinson and Koester, Trajectories, 35.

Afkorting van de serie (SPhEPh = Studies in Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy) opnemen in lijst van
afkortingen. Voor het gebruik van gestandaardiseerde afkortingen kun je het beste gebruik maken van een
standaardwerk als S. Schwertner, Internationales Abkrzungsverzeichnis fr Theologie und Grenzgebiete /
International Glossary of Abbreviations for Theology and Related Subjects (Berlin, New York: W. de Gruyter,
2
1992) en/of P.H. Alexander et al. (eds.), The SBL Handbook of Style for Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and
Early Christian Studies (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1999).

17

Author-Date (APA)
Lopende tekst

(Caputo 1997, 56-67)

(Israel 2011, 45; Ricoeur 2004, 56)
(Robinson and Koester 1971, 56).
Bibliografie

Caputo, John D. 1987. Radical Hermeneutics: Repetition, Deconstruction, and the Hermeneutic
Project. SPhEPh; Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.
Israel, Jonathan I. 2011. Democratic Enlightenment: Philosophy, Revolution, and Human Rights 17501790. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
Ricoeur, Paul. 2004. The Conflict of Interpretation: Essays in Hermeneutics. Edited by Don Ihde. New
York and London: Continuum, 1989, repr. 2004.
Robinson, James M., and Helmut Koester. 1971. Trajectories through Early Christianity.
Philadelphia: Fortress.
5.2.2 Artikel in tijdschrift

Chicago (CMS)
Bibliografie

Dettweiler, Andreas, La letter aux Colossiens: une thologie de la mmoire. NTS 59 (2013): 109128.
Vandermeersch, Patrick, Michel Foucault: een onverwachte hermeneutiek van het Christendom?
TTh 25 (1985): 250-277.
Wellhausen, Julius, Die Komposition des Hexateuchs. JDT 21 (1876): 392-450; 22 (1877): 407-479.
Voetnoot (eerste referentie in het hoofdstuk)
1
Andreas Dettweiler, La lettre aux Colossiens: une thologie de la mmoire, NTS 59 (2013): 109-128.
2
Patrick Vandermeersch, Michel Foucault: een onverwachte hermeneutiek van het Christendom? TTh 25
(1985): 250-277.
3
Julius Wellhausen, Die Komposition des Hexateuchs, JDT 21 (1876): 398.
Voetnoot (alle overige voetnoten binnen hetzelfde hoofdstuk)
Dettweiler, Lettre aux Colossiens, 125.
5
Vandermeersch, Foucault,260.
6
Wellhausen, Komposition, 424.
4

Author-Date (APA)
Lopende tekst

(Dettweiler 2013, 115)

(Vandermeersch 1985, 255)
(Wellhausen 1876, 398)
Bibliografie

Dettweiler, Andreas. 2013. La letter aux Colossiens: une thologie de la mmoire. NTS 59: 109-128.
Vandermeersch, Patrick. 1985. Michel Foucault: een onverwachte hermeneutiek van het
Christendom? TTh 25: 250-277.
Wellhausen, Julius, 1876-1877. Die Komposition des Hexateuchs. JDT 21 (1876): 392-450; 22
(1877): 407-479.
18

5.2.3 Bijdrage aan bundel / redactie

Chicago (CMS)
Bibliografie

Ellethy, Yaser, Shura in Text and Context: Islamizing Democracy or Democratizing Islam?, in:
Govert Buijs, Thijl Sunier and Peter Versteeg (eds.), Risky Liaisons? Democracy and Religion:
Reflections and Case Studies (AmSTaR 4; Amsterdam: VU University Press, 2013), 78-92.
Zwiep, Arie W., Eight Kings on an Apocalyptic Animal Farm: Reflections on Revelation 17:9-11,
in: Jan Krans et al. (eds.), Paul, John and Apocalyptic Eschatology: Studies in Honour of
Martinus C. de Boer (NovTSup 149; Leiden, Boston: Brill, 2013), 218-237.
Voetnoot (eerste referentie in het hoofdstuk)
1

Yaser Ellethy, Shura in Text and Context: Islamizing Democracy or Democratizing Islam?, in:
Govert Buijs, Thijl Sunier and Peter Versteeg (eds.), Risky Liaisons? Democracy and Religion:
Reflections and Case Studies (AmSTaR 4; Amsterdam: VU University Press, 2013), 78-92.
Arie W. Zwiep, Eight Kings on an Apocalyptic Animal Farm: Reflections on Revelation 17:9-11,
in: Jan Krans et al. (eds.), Paul, John and Apocalyptic Eschatology: Studies in Honour of
Martinus C. de Boer (NovTSup 149; Leiden, Boston: Brill, 2013), 218-237.

Voetnoot (alle overige voetnoten binnen hetzelfde hoofdstuk):

4
Ellethy, Shura in Text and Context, 88.
5
Zwiep, Eight Kings, 224.

5.2.4 Artikel (entry) in handboek of encyclopedie

Chicago (CMS)
Bibliografie

Bormann, K. and Strohm, Chr., Stoa/Stoizismus/Neustoizismus, TRE 32 (2001) 179-193.

Dimant, Devorah, Pesharim, Qumran, AncBD (1992) 5:244-251.
Duane F. Watson, Roman Empire, in: C.A. Evans, S.E. Porter (eds.), Dictionary of New Testament
Background (Downers Grove, Leicester: InterVarsity, 2000), 974978.
Voetnoot (eerste referentie in het hoofdstuk)
1

K. Bormann, Stoa/Stoizismus, TRE 32 (2001) 179-180.

Chr. Strohm, Neustoizismus, TRE 32 (2001) 190-193.
3
Devorah Dimant, Pesharim, Qumran, AncBD (1992) 5:244-251.
4
Duane F. Watson, Roman Empire, in: C.A. Evans, S.E. Porter (eds.), Dictionary of New Testament
Background (Downers Grove, Leicester: InterVarsity, 2000), 974978
2

Voetnoot (alle overige voetnoten binnen hetzelfde hoofdstuk)

5
Bormann, Stoa/Stoizismus, 185.
6
Strohm, Neustoizismus, 192.
7
Dimant, Pesharim, Qumran 249.
8
Watson, Roman Empire, 975.

19

Author-Date (APA)
Lopende tekst

(Bormann 2001, 180)

(Dimant 1992, 245; Strohm 2001, 191)
Bibliografie

Bormann, K. and Strohm, Chr. 2001. Stoa/Stoizismus/Neustoizismus, TRE 32:179-193.

Dimant, Devorah, 1992. Pesharim, Qumran, AncBD 5:244-251.
5.3 Citing Authors
As indicated above, to cite authors is either to quote from their publications or to refer to them by
name. The latter commonly occurs when you paraphrase or summarize their contributions to
scholarship, or make use of their ideas. All such citations need to be properly referenced.
To be more precise: You should always credit (i.e., reference) your sources in the case of (1) direct
and paraphrased quotations and excerpts, (2) facts and statistics that are not common knowledge, and
(3) ideas, thoughts, and opinions that are not your own but that you discovered in the course of your
research.
You do not need to credit (reference) a source for information that is commonly known (Amsterdam
is the capital of the Netherlands) or rests upon accepted wisdom or for references to or brief mentions
of commonly known literary, artistic and religious work.
5.3.1 Quoting
Only quote pieces of text when it is absolutely necessary to do so. Writers who too often resort to
quotation give the impression of not being able to present the sources they have used effectively in
their own words. When you quote, do everything you can to ensure accuracy and make sure that the
quotation follows on correctly from your own text. Mark interventions in the quoted text (e.g.
omissions, or comments by yourself) by placing three dots. For example:
Singer regards the term evil as the worst term of opprobrium that can be applied to a human
being. And the concept applies primarily to persons and organizations, secondarily to conduct
and practices. (Singer 2004, p. 190).
The dotted line denotes the place where the phrase in my conception was left out. You can include
short quotations in the main body of your text within double quotation marks. If you are quoting a
longer passage (more than three lines), do so in a text block. Signal this by means of indentation
and/or by using a smaller font.
5.3.2 Paraphrasing
If you are paraphrasing (or summarizing) a piece of text, make sure that you distinguish clearly
between expressing your own thoughts and expressing the opinions of others in your own words. You
can do this by stating at the beginning of a section that you are now going to deal with the views of
author X or by including phrases like according to X, it is the case that , X goes on to argue that
, X then makes it clear that or But is this correct? - X wonders in the course of a section,
possibly at the start of each new paragraph.
20

5.4 Abbreviations of Journals, Series, etc.

Schwertner, S., Internationales Abkrzungsverzeichnis fr Theologie und Grenzgebiete /
International Glossary of Abbreviations for Theology and Related Subjects (Berlin, New York: W.
de Gruyter, 21992) xli + 488pp.
Alexander, P.H. et al. (eds.), The SBL Handbook of Style for Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and
Early Christian Studies (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1999) 304pp.

21

6.

Writing and Rewriting

6.1 Be Focused on the Whole

Only on the rarest of occasions will you succeed in writing the definitive version of a thesis at your
first attempt, but in general it is not realistic to expect that you can complete even a short text without
having to rewrite it. One normally does not write straight from A to Z. When writing your first version
it is a good idea to concentrate on coming to grips with demarcating and defining it. That is to say,
when embarking on such a provisional version, focus your attention on the content without worrying
too much about exactly how to phrase your thoughts. Once you start rewriting and rewriting again,
you can shift the focus towards refining your phrasing, getting rid of spelling mistakes and deciding
where to put your commas.13
6.2 Think Paragraph
The paragraph (Dutch: alinea) is a key content-related and typographic unit of text (several
paragraphs make up a section (Dutch: paragraaf), several sections make up a chapter). It is a good
strategy to write from paragraph to paragraph, making a clear connection between each new paragraph
(and section and chapter) and the previous one. Good paragraphs are usually longer than a sentence
and shorter than a whole page. Paragraphs that are too short make a text too airy, while paragraphs
that are too long leave the reader gasping for breath.
6.3 Proportions
The overall structure of the thesis should be balanced and with the right proportions. Try to keep the
various chapters equal in length. Both the introduction and the conclusion should not exceed 10% of
the whole thesis (they are, after all, what they are: introduction to and conclusion of the proper theme
in the body of the thesis). This is especially a common pitfall for students writing an exegetical thesis:
if you are writing a thesis on an exegetical issue of one of the gospels, for instance, you should not
spend half of your thesis spelling out the details of the synoptic problem or of classical introductory
matters: they all belong to the introductory matters you should have resolved for yourself before your
actual exegesis. Just state your position, with the relevant arguments and references, and then begin
with your exegesis. You should, however, be constantly on the alert that your previous choices may
distort your findings; your point of departure, then, is just what it is, a point of departure: if a given
position does not square with the outcome of your research, you must revise your prior standpoint and
start all over again.
6.4 Writing Style
Your style of writing must be academic, that is, your language must be clear and unambiguous (you
are not writing poetry or a newspaper article but an academic treatise). Especially theologians have a
tendency to blur the distinction between description and evaluation (and/or personal faith
commitment). Your language must be descriptive rather than normative (on the basis of these
arguments the following conclusions emerge ... rather than I personally believe that ...). It is not
enough to state that you have your own presuppositions (we all have); you need to demonstrate that
these presuppositions are appropriate and the best guarantee for the understanding of your topic. The
argument that you are advancing must meet the standard criteria of rationality, coherency, objectivity,
etc., that is, your opponents (those whose views you are criticizing) or readers from a totally different
perspective should at least admit that your methodological approach is sound (and, ideally, admit that
13

See also K.L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (rev.
ed. W.C. Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.M. Williams; Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press, 72007)
98130.

22

your conclusions are cogent). Always establish your thesis or the point you wish to make in the face of
anticipated objections by your readers. It helps to imagine a fictive opponent who is highly critical of
everything you write.
6.5 Spelling and Grammar
When it comes to rewriting, pay attention to grammar, choice of words, style and spelling. This is
easier said than done; how exactly do you go about it? Spelling is no longer much of a problem: most
word-processing programs feature a reliable spelling checker. Grammar, choice of words and style are
more complicated. In this regard, knowledge of your own capabilities has an important part to play. If
you have the impression that your texts are not well-written or if you notice that readers have a
tendency to lose heart when reading your work, then you will have to invest more time in the writing
process and probably ask more of your supervisory lecturers time than other students.

23

7.

Appearance and Layout

The present manual is only to some extent set up according to the layout principles of this chapter.
The definitive version of the thesis must be printed single-sided.
Ensure that the type page is easy on the eye and well-organized. Resist the temptation to use all the
features available in your word processing program (do not use different colours, different fonts,
headings, etc.). In any case, pay attention to the following aspects:
- Leave enough space in the margins: 2,54 cm (= 1 inch) for the top, bottom and right margins and
3,5 cm for the left (especially in the case of a thesis, which has to be bound or glued).
- Use a 11-point font (Times New Roman) for the running text and 10-point font for footnotes.
- Use a minimum line spacing of 1,15.
- With regard to page numbers, count the title page as page 1. Page numbers should only be visible
from the contents page onwards.
Headings for chapters, sections and subsections should be clearly marked. Ensure that the hierarchy of
the text as a whole is reflected in the typography: for example chapter titles in capitals, section titles in
italics and subsection titles unmarked but followed by a blank line.
If you have a preference for working with numbers, by all means do so, but exercise restraint in your
subdivisions. A reader who finds himself presented with sub-sub-subsection 3.4.3.2.1 is almost certain
to have lost all sense of structure some time ago (in other words, Wittgensteins approach in the
Tractatus is not an option open to us mere mortal writers).

24

8. For Further Reading and Consultation

8.1 For Theses and Papers in English
Alexander, P.H. et al. (eds.), The SBL Handbook of Style for Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and Early
Christian Studies (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1999) 304pp.
Bell, J., Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time Researchers in Education, Health and
Social Science (Buckingham: Open University Press, 42005) 288pp.
Blaxter, L., Hughes, C., Tight, M., How to Research (Buckingham, Philadelphia: Open University
Press, 2001, Pb 32006) 304pp.
Cleton, P., Carroll, D., Kramers Stijlgids Engels (Kramers Woordenboeken, 2001) v + 250pp.
Clines, D.J.A., The Sheffield Manual for Authors and Editors in Biblical Studies (Manuals 12;
Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1997) 200pp.
Ritter, R.M. (ed.), The Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors (Oxford: OUP, 1981, 22000) xii +
404pp.
Ritter, R.M., The Oxford Guide to Style (Oxford: OUP, 2000) xi + 623pp.
Turabian, K.L., A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (rev. ed. W.C.
Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.M. Williams; Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press, 72007) xviii +
466pp.
University of Chicago Press Staff (ed.), The Chicago Manual of Style. The Essential Guide for
Writers, Editors, and Publishers (Chicago, London: Chicago University Press, 1906, 152003) xvii +
956pp. (see also www.chicagomanualofstyle.org)
8.2 For Theses and Papers in Dutch
Eco, U., Hoe schrijf ik een scriptie? (vert. uit het Italiaans; orig. Come si fa una tesi di laurea, 1977;
Amsterdam: Ooievaar, 1985, 92000) 275pp.
Heuvel, J.H.J. van den, Hoe schrijf ik een werkstuk of scriptie? (Utrecht: Lemma, 1994).
Horst, P. van der, Stijlwijzer (Den Haag: Sdu Uitgevers; Antwerpen: Standaard Uitgeverij) 254pp.
(een praktische handleiding voor het leesbaar schrijven van zakelijke teksten).
Oosterbaan, W., Het schrijven van een leesbare scriptie (Rotterdam: NRC Handelsblad, 1995).
Pol, J.H.J. van de, In goed Nederlands (Den Haag: Sdu Uitgevers; Antwerpen: Standaard Uitgeverij)
212pp. (talloze adviezen voor het schrijven van zakelijke teksten).
Renkema, J., Schrijfwijzer (Den Haag: Sdu Uitgevers; Antwerpen: Standaard Uitgeverij, 1979, 42005)
466pp. (praktisch handboek voor correct Nederlands taalgebruik).
Steehouder, M., e.a., Leren communiceren. Handboek voor mondelinge en schriftelijke communicatie
(Groningen: Wolters-Noordhoff, 1984, 41999) 539pp.
Woordenlijst Nederlandse taal, samengesteld door het Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie in
opdracht van de Nederlandse Taalunie (Den Haag: Sdu Uitgevers; Antwerpen: Standaard
Uitgeverij, 1995) 1055pp. (Groene Boekje). (ook digitaal te verkrijgen: Het Elektronisch Groene
Boekje, versie 2.0 ISBN 90 75566 65 4).

25

8.3 Specialized Courses, Workshops and Websites

Headway Online (Oxford University Press)
http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/headway (online interactive exercises to practice your
English at various levels)
Writing English for Publication - www.taalcentrum.vu.nl > Trainingen > Trainingen vreemde talen
Scriptie / thesis schrijven - www.vu.nl/student
Academic Writing - www.vu.nl/student (in English)
Library Workshops - www.ubvu.vu.nl/lists/docs/beep
Authorized English translations of VU-terms (geautoriseerde Engelse vertalingen van VU-termen www.taalcentrum.vu.nl
www.LearnerAssociates.net/dissthes/dissguid.pdf (S.J. Levine, Writing and Presenting Your Thesis
or Dissertation, 14pp.)
www.digidesk.vu.nl
Dasselaar, A., Handboek internetresearch (Culemborg: Van Duuren Media, 2004, 32006) xvi +
288pp.

26

Bijlage 1: Eventuele onderwerpen voor een scriptie

Research Areas in Old Testament Studies
The members of the section Biblical Studies (subsection Old Testament Studies) of the Faculty of
Theology at VU University are interested in supervising theses in a variety of areas. These can be at
BA, MA or PhD level. Possible areas of research, on the text and the individual books of the Old
Testament, broader (theological) questions, and on questions of interpretation are listed here. It is
always possible to propose research areas oneself or variations and specifications of the areas listed.
A. Hebrew Language and Linguistics
Word Study and Valence (Dyk, Van Peursen)
Syntax and Participants of a particular section (Van Peursen)
Metaphors and their meanings (Van Staalduine)
B. Sections, Parts, Books of the OT
Genesis (Karrer)
Judges (Karrer)
Leviticus (De Vries)
Samuel (Van Staalduine)
Kings (Dyk)
Deutero-Isaiah (Van Staalduine, Dubbink)
Jeremiah (Dubbink, Karrer)
Ezekiel (De Vries, Dubbink)
Zechariah 1-8 (Dubbink)
Psalms (De Vries)
Song of Songs (De Vries, Van Staalduine)
Daniel (Van Peursen)
Ezra-Nehemiah (Karrer, Dubbink)
Chronicles (Van Staalduine)
C. OT and its Historical Context
Laws in their historical context (Van Staalduine)
History and Narrative (Van Peursen)
The Image of the Tree in Metaphors (Van Staalduine)
Questions concerning theology and history (Dubbink)
D. History of the text and translations
History of Textual Criticism of a section (Van Peursen, Van Staalduine)
Qumran texts (Van Peursen)
The LXX version of a section (Van Peursen)
The Targum version of a section (Van Staalduine)
The Peshitta version of a section (Van Peursen, Dyk)
The Vulgate version of a section (Van Staalduine)
E. History of the Interpretation
Interpretation history in Qumran (Van Peursen)
Interpretation history in the Syriac tradition (Van Peursen)
Interpretation history in early Judaism (Van Staalduine):
o The various Targum versions of a section from the Pentateuch
o A Targum section in relation to Midrashim and Talmudim
27

Interpretation history in early Christianity (Van Staalduine):

o The metaphor of the rock in writings of Irenaeus and Augustine
o Isaiah 53 in Jeromes commentary
Interpretation history in the sixteenth century (Van Staalduine):
o The ten commandments in the Heidelberg Catechism
o Calvin and Luther on the place of the OT within Christian theology
A section in Jewish and Christian interpretation history (Van Staalduine, Van Peursen)
Typology (De Vries)
Amsterdamse school (Dubbink)
Reception Esthetics (Karrer)
Literary Approaches to Biblical Texts (Karrer)
Relationship between OT and NT in Church History and Systematic Studies (De Vries)

F. Theological Questions
Gender issues (Van Staalduine)
Divine Names in the OT (De Vries)
Daniels Four Empires (Van Peursen, Van Staalduine)
Walter Brueggemans Theology of the OT (Dubbink, Van Staalduine)
Old Testament Theology of Walter C. Kaiser and Paul House (De Vries)
Leadership and Kingship in the OT (Karrer)
Theological Anthropology (Dubbink)
The Message of the Prophets (De Vries)
Concepts of Sin and Salvation (De Vries)
G. Canon and Biblical Theology
Deuterocanonical books (Van Peursen)
Evangelical views on the authority of the OT (Van Staalduine)
Reformed views on the place of the OT within theology (De Vries)
Doopsgezind perspective on Biblical Theology (Karrer)

28

Research Areas in New Testament Studies

The members of the New Testament section of the Faculty of Theology are interested in supervising
theses in a variety of areas. Theses can be at the BA, MA or Ph.D. level. It is always possible to
propose research areas oneself or variations and/or specifications of the areas listed here. Possible
areas of research, on the text and the individual books of the New Testament, broader (theological)
questions, and on questions of interpretation are:
A.

B.

Texts and Books:

The Text of the New Testament:
o History of the Text of the New Testament (Dr. Krans)
o History of New Testament Textual Criticism (Dr. Krans)
o Questions of New Testament Greek (Dr. Krans)
The Synoptic Gospels (Dr. Smit)
o Mark, esp. Mark 5:21-43 parr. (Dr. Zwiep)
o Luke (Dr. Zwiep)
The Acts of the Apostles (Dr. Zwiep)
o The Church in the Acts of the Apostles (Dr. Zwiep)
The Pauline Epistles (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
o Opponents in Pauls Letter to the Galatians
o Justification in the Pauline Literature and its Historical Background
o Pauline Eschatology and Apocalypticism
o Paul as Missionary (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
o The Use of Paradigms (Exampls) in Philippians (Dr. Smit)
o Paul and the Old Testament
o Paul and the history of earliest Christianity
o Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15
o Women and Men in Ministry in the Pauline Letters
o The Relationship between Galatians and Romans
o Paul's Understanding of the Death of Jesus in Galatians
o Pauline Views of Death and Resurrection
The Johannine Literature (Dr. Smit)
o The History of Johannine Christianity
o The Gospel of John (Dr. Smit)
The Jews in the Gospel of John
The Death of Jesus in the Gospel of John (Dr. Smit)
The Structure of the Gospel of John (Dr. Smit)
Women and Men in the Gospel of John
o The Book of Revelation (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte, Dr. Zwiep, Dr. Smit)
The Structure of the Book of Revelation (Dr. Zwiep)
Reader-response criticism and the Book of Revelation (Dr. Zwiep)
General Epistles
o 1 Peter (Dr. Zwiep)
o Hebrews (Dr. Zwiep)
Context and Broader (Theological) Questions
Early Jewish - Christian Relations (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte, Dr. Krans, Dr. Zwiep)
Early Christian Eschatology (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
Narrative criticism (Synoptic Gospels and Acts) (Dr. Zwiep)
Early Christian Christology (Dr. Zwiep)
Early Christian Eschatology (Dr. Zwiep)
The Notion of the Kingdom of God (Dr. Zwiep)
29

The Notion of the Son of Man (Dr. Zwiep)

The Devil and the Antichrist in Early Christianity (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
Magic and the New Testament in its Hellenistic Context (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
Miracles and the New Testament in its Hellenistic Context (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
The Interpretation of the Old Testament in the New Testament (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
The Divine Name in the New Testament (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
New Testament Christology (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
The Figure of Judas Iscariot in the New Testament and Its Interpretation (Dr. Zwiep)
Extra-canonical early Christian and Jewish Writings (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte, Dr. Krans, Dr.
Smit)
Violence and Jesus Traditions (Dr. Zwiep)
Questions of the Historical Jesus (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte, Drs. Zwiep, Krans and Smit)
o Postmodern Historiography and the Historical Jesus (Dr. Smit)
Qumran and the New Testament (Drs. Krans and Zwiep)
Baptism in the New Testament (Dr. Zwiep)
o Baptism in the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Dr. Zwiep)
Angels in the New Testament (Dr. Zwiep)
o Angels in the Letter to the Hebrews (Dr. Zwiep)
Ascension (Dr. Zwiep)
The Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Dr. Zwiep)
Justice in the New Testament (Dr. Zwiep)
Heaven in the New Testament (Dr. Zwiep)
Cross/bearing the Cross in the New Testament (Dr. Zwiep)
Resurrection in the New Testament (Dr. Zwiep)
Exodus in the New Testament (Dr. Zwiep)
Judas and the Choice of Matthias in Acts 1 (Dr. Zwiep)
o The Death of Judas (Dr. Zwiep)
Paradigms in the New Testament (esp. Philippians) (Dr. Smit)
New Testament and Gender (Dr. Zwiep, Dr. Smit)
Masculinity and the New Testament (Dr. Smit)
o Masculinity and Authority in the New Testament (Dr. Smit)
Food and Food Symbolism in the New Testament (Dr. Smit)
Meal Fellowship (and Ecclesiology) in the New Testament (Dr. Smit)
Heavenly Meal Fellowship in the New Testament (Dr. Smit)
Mary in the New Testament (Dr. Smit)
Miraculous Feedings in the New Testament (Dr. Smit)
Ministry in the New Testament (Dr. Smit)

C. Interpretation:
- Text, Interpretation and Authority (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte)
- Bible and Translation in the 16th century (Dr. Krans)
- New Testament and Popular Science (Dr. Krans)
- The New Testament Goes to the Movies (Dr. Krans)
- Questions of New Testament Theology (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte, Dr. Krans, Dr. Zwiep, Dr.
Smit)
- Ritual studies and the New Testament (Dr. Smit)
- Rhetorical criticism and the New Testament (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte, Smit, and Dr. Zwiep)
- Form, redaction and tradition criticism (Dr. Zwiep)
- Questions of New Testament Hermeneutics (including the history of New Testament
Hermeneutics) (Dr. Zwiep, Dr. Krans, Dr. Smit)
o Evangelical and Charismatic Biblical Hermeneutics (Dr. Zwiep)
o The Hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer (Dr. Zwiep)
o Wesleyan Hermeneutics (Dr. Zwiep)
30

The Actualization of the Bible (Dr. Zwiep)

Biblical Interpretation and Politics (Dr. Zwiep, Dr. Smit)
Biblical Interpretation in the Philippines (Dr. Smit)
o Ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics (Dr. Smit)
o Scripture and Tradition in the Ecumenical Movement (Dr. Smit)
o Fundamentalist Biblical Interpretation (Dr. Smit)
o Canonical Biblical Hermeneutics (Prof. Lietaert Peerbolte, Dr. Smit, Dr. Zwiep)
o Autobiography and Biblical Interpretation (Dr. Smit)
o Postmodern Appraoches to the New Testament (Drs. Zwiep and Smit)
The History of Interpretation of the New Testament (Dr. Krans, Dr. Smit)
o The History of Interpretation of the New Testament in the Philippines (Dr. Smit)
o
o

31

Research Areas in Church Historical Studies

De vakgroep kerkgeschiedenis bestrijkt de gehele kerkgeschiedenis. Dat betekent dat vrijwel voor
ieder onderwerp een deskundige begeleider gevonden kan worden. De onderstaande lijst met scriptieonderwerpen geeft een indruk van wat er allemaal mogelijk is. Mocht je zelf een idee hebben voor een
scriptieonderwerp dan zijn we altijd bereid om te kijken of dat binnen de mogelijkheden valt.
- Geschiedenis van het Christendom van de oudheid tot de komst van de Islam
- Geschiedenis van het Romeinse keizerrijk
- Vroegchristelijke literatuur
- Vroegchristelijke exegese
- Magie in de tijd van de vroege kerk
- Griekse papyrologie
- Overgangen prehistorie en Romeinse tijd naar vroeg christendom in Noordwest-Europa
- De onderwijsvisie van Basilius van Caesarea (330-379)
- Keizer Justinianus' kritiek op Origenes (of: zijn christelijke politiek)
- Hoe beschadigt erfzonde de mens volgens Thomas van Aquino?
- Moderne Devotie
- Religieuze bestsellers in Europa. Een casestudy (scriptie over n van de vele religieuze bestsellers
of steady-sellers; boek- en cultuurhistorische studie)
- De Bijbel verbeeld (scriptie over verbeelding van n van de bijbelse themas in gedrukte grafiek.
Boek- en kunsthistorische studie)
- De catechismus van David Joris
- Calvijn en de diakonie
- Beza over de vervolging van ketters
- Het lichtend voorbeeld van Constantinopel in pleidooien voor religieuze tolerantie
- De polemiek tussen gereformeerden en lutheranen in de tijd van de Republiek
- Samen-op-weg avant la lettre. Pogingen tot hereniging tussen lutheranen en gereformeerden
- Receptie van Castellio
- De receptie van Bullinger in de Republiek
- Grenzen van Castellios tolerantie
- Godsdienstgesprekken in de Republiek
- De discussie over Conrad Vorstius Tractatus de Deo (1606)
- De betekenis van de kerkvaders volgens Johannes Hoornbeek
- De receptie van Thomas Bradwardine (c 1290-1349) in de zeventiende eeuw
- Jezuetentheologie en gereformeerd denken: Juan Azor (1536-1603) in het werk van Gisbertus
Voetius (1589-1676)
- Theologisch cartesianisme in de zeventiende eeuw
- Zeventiende-eeuwse theologische kritiek op de filosofie van Thomas Hobbes
- Kerk en Isral 19e en 20e eeuw
- Protestants-christelijk verzet in WO2 en latere doorwerking daarvan
- Begraafplaatsen als bron voor KG
- Nederlandse kerkgeschiedenis 19e en 20e eeuw
- Geschiedenis Nederlands protestantisme na 1800 (politiek, cultuur, zorg, onderwijs, etc.)
- Internationale geschiedenis neocalvinisme

32

Scriptieonderwerpen Baptistenseminarium
1.

VROEGE KERK
a.
Martelaarsgeschriften
b.
Ontwikkeling ambten
c.
Geweldloosheid
d.
Kerk en overheid (ontwikkeling Constantinisme)
e.
Lokale theologie en conciliarisme

2.

GESCHIEDENIS BAPTISME
a.
1609 en emergence baptistengemeenten in Europa
b.
Ontwikkeling en verspreiding Baptistengemeenten in Europa en daarbuiten
c.
Ontstaan en ontwikkeling baptistengemeenten in Nederland

3.

THEOLOGIE BAPTISME
a.
James Wm. McClendon
b.
Ecclesiologische vragen voor de toekomst

4.

IDENTITEIT BAPTISME
a.
Mapping Baptist Identity
b.
Literatuurstudie Mapping Baptist Identity

5.

PURITANISME, OPWEKKINGSBEWEGING EN EVANGELISCHE BEWEGING

a.
Wortels van de Nederlandse Evangelische Beweging
b.
De evangelische beweging komt oorspronkelijk uit de 18e eeuw

33

Dogmatiek en Oecumene scriptieonderwerpen

Gijsbert van den Brink:
1. Heeft een sociale triniteitsleer bijbels-theologisch en theologiehistorisch goede papieren, of
vormt zij een (al dan niet post-hegeliaanse) ketterij? (met M. Wisse?)
2. Sluit de evolutietheorie goddelijke voorzienigheid uit?
3. De hedendaagse Cognitive Science of Religion: poging tot een theologische evaluatie.
4. De zondeval: wetenschappelijk gezien een achterhaalde notie?
5. Kan de christologie ons helpen om het evolutionaire theodiceeprobleem (c.q. het probleem
van evolutionair lijden) theologisch adequaat te doordenken?
6. Heeft er een Logos asarkos bestaan? (Hierbij zou wel specifiek McCormack + reacties
bestudeerd moeten worden).
7. Is Jezus Christus behalve object ook subject van het verkiezingsbesluit? (Dit kan ook met bijv.
Calvijn en/of Dordt en Barth, maar leuk zou natuurlijk wel zijn om ook hier McCormack mee
te nemen).
8. Het zuchten van de schepping: Rom. 8:20-22 in de hedendaagse discussie tussen geloof en
wetenschap.
9. Wat is gereformeerd? Het eigene van gereformeerde theologie.
10. C. Graafland en de theologie van het gereformeerd protestantisme.
Wim van Vlastuin:
1. Wat zijn de gronden voor dopen van kinderen bij Kohlbrugge?
2. Wat is de theologische betekenis van het ja-woord van de ouders bij de doop van hun
kinderen?
3. Een vergelijkend onderzoek naar de waardering van de aarde in de theologie van Calvijn en
van de Beek
4. Een onderzoek naar de theologische structuur van de spiritualiteit van Samuel Rutherford
5. Wat zijn de theologische consequenties van het neurobiologische determinisme zoals vertolkt
door D. Swaab in zijn boek Wij zijn ons brein?
Katja Tolstaja:
1. Dogmatic loci of the three Christian confessions that are (seemingly?) unbridgeable
2. Eastern Orthodoxy and the Western conception of human rights
3. Orthodox theological tradition & politics
4. Comparative history of Orthodox churches and canon law
5. Comparative dogmatic loci in Protestantism, Catholicism and Orthodoxy
6. The Orthodox Churches theological account of current socio-political developments (e.g.
Pussy Riot, and gender issues in Russia)
7. Orthodoxy & political radicalism
8. Religious, ethnic & national identity in Orthodox communities
9. Transformation of religious practice & thought in the contemporary Orthodox Churches
10. Orthodox tradition & (re-)invention of tradition(s)
11. Orthodox theological themes (e.g. theosis, imago Dei) in 19th, 20th- and 21st-century
literature
12. Orthodoxy in film and visual art forms
13. Myth- and image-forming as a socio-religious phenomenon
14. Irony and humor as a socio-religious phenomenon
15. Contextualization & cross-pollination with other contemporary theologies, e.g. South
American and South African liberation theology
16. Post-totalitarian theologies, e.g. the development of a Theology after Gulag
17. Similar topics in a comparative research on other religions
18. John Chrysostom (c. 347407) and Gregory Palamas (12961359) theological similarities and
differences
34

Hieronder een aantal themas in het Nederlands, wat meer gespecificeerd:

19. Patristiek als wetenschap in de moderne Oosterse Orthodoxie.
20. Nieuw Orthodox zicht op soteriologie?
21. De Orthodoxe opvatting van theologische hermeneutiek.
Maarten Wisse:
1. (Aspecten van) de uitleg van het Johannesevangelie bij Origenes, Chrysostomos, of Cyprianus
2. De rol van het Johannesevangelie in verschillende werken van Augustinus
3. De rol van de Johannes-proloog in Over de goddelijke namen van Dionysius de Areopagiet
4. Het Johannesevangelie bij Sebastian Franck, Andreas Osiander, Menno Simons, Melchior
Hoffmann, Michael Servet e.a.
5. Het Johannesevangelie in zestiende-eeuwse lutherse liederen
6. De rol van het Johannesevangelie in de groninger en ethische theologie, bijvoorbeeld J.H.
Gunning jr. of Chantepie de la Sausaye
Kees van der Kooi:
1. Geest en diversiteit bij Fr. Schleiermacher
2. De eeuwige Zoon? De visie van R. Jenson op de pre-existentie
3. Karl Barth en de leer van het Nichtige
4. Kerkruimte en theologie: A. Kuypers idee van kerkelijke architectuur
5. J.H. Scholten en A. Kuyper: overeenkomsten en verschillen
6. De veranderlijkheid van God en onze rol in de geschiedenis
7. Barths visie op de veranderlijkheid van God
8. De landbelofte bij Marquardt, Van de Beek of Moltmann
9. Een veilig anker: Bavinck over de raad Gods
10. Het ministry-gebed
11. Geloof als bron van zin en waarden
Ltzen Miedema:
1. Oecumenica tussen Oosters-Orthodox en Westers protestants
2. interculturele theologie:
a. immigrantenkerken
b. Sunday morning: the most segragated hour
c. christelijke identiteit van immigranten en integratie
d. vrede en verzoening bij interraciaal, intercultureel of interreligieus geweld
e. gevolgen van globalisering van het christendom
3. publieke theologie van diaconaat:
a. joodse en christelijke fundamenten van het diaconaat
b. diaconaat in bijbelse theologie
c. verzoening en schuldsanering
d. hoe geestelijk is de herwaardering van diaconaal geld in economie en finance?
e. vermarkting van (oorspronkelijk) pro Deo-werk: een zondeval?
4. publieke theologie:
a. calvinisme en maatschappelijke ondersteuning
b. rechtstaat
c. verzorgingsstaat
d. verhouding kerk en staat
5. publieke theologie en spiritualiteit in (m.n. zorg-, bedrijfs- en kunst-)sectoren van de
samenleving
6. de terugkeer van de ethiek in bedrijven en banken

35

Scriptieonderwerpen Centrum voor Islamitische Theologie

1. Praktijkonderzoek
Vriendschap tussen moslims en niet-moslims (aan de hand van de theorie van
loyaliteit en disloyaliteit in de islam).
Religieus onderwijs in moskeen.
Buitenschoolse educatie in moskeen en aanverwante organisaties.
Godsbeeld bij jonge moslims (in grote steden).
Religieuze ervaring onder seculiere moslims.
Perceptie van jihad onder moslims in de grote steden.
Perceptie van de islam in de media / sociale media / internet ?
Wie fungeert er als voorbeeld voor jonge moslims?
2. Hermeneutiek
Omstreden Koranbegrippen in het publieke debat in de geseculariseerde samenleving
en reactie moslims.
Verstaan van de Hadith (overleveringen van de profeet) in de moderne context.
3. Praktische theologie
Rol van dua (smeekgebeden) in het dagelijkse leven van de moslim.
Religieus vocabulaire van moslims in sociale media.
Percepties van de imams inzake burgerschap.
Perceptie Nederlandse imams inzake secularisatie.
De functie van de moskee in een geseculariseerde samenleving.
De functie van de imam in een geseculariseerde samenleving.
4. Sociale leer
Vrijwillige inzet moslims in een georganiseerd verband.
Zorg voor de kwetsbaren onder moslims.
Armoedebestrijding door moskeen.
Wat betekent het woord gerechtigheid of barmhartigheid in de Koran/Hadith?

36