Religion and Diversity: Conflict and Coexistence

Historically, religion has been a source of conflict in the form of oppressive systems, confrontational identity politics and gender discrimination. But religion has also been, and continues to be, a resource for personal formation, for resistance, and for building coexistence.Theology may support conflict-oriented identity formation, or foster dialogue and interaction across societal and religious divides.Highlighting the interaction between experience, religious tradition and theological reflection, and including both historical and contemporary perspectives, this two-year Master program offers a broad approach to diversity. The program investigates the connectedness between religious and other identities in pluralist societies. Lived experiences – for instance, with migration, conversion or gender discrimination – are part of the program’s analytical horizon.The Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo has a wide-ranging expertise in historical studies, biblical studies, Islamic studies, interreligious studies, gender- and post-colonial studies, contemporary theology, and practical theology. Thematically, theoretically and methodologically, the program draws on all these competences.