https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/G_RMRE09The studentunderstands the doctrine of Providence in its historical development in Christian theology and in its relationship with other religions and worldviews.is able to analyse theological texts from different periods within their historical context that reflect on the relationship between God and the world.can articulate the specific questions that the doctrine of Providence raises both in pastoral and apologetic contexts and is able to answer them.is able to assess sermons on the doctrine of Providence and explain how they relate to the underlying views of their authors.can write a sermon or speech on Providence.The doctrine of Providence describes the fundamental relationship between God as creator and the world. Fundamental questions related to this doctrine are the preservation and governance of the world and human freedom. All kinds of fundamental issues regarding climate change and the human attitude towards disease in general or a pandemic in particular relate to the view of the relationship between God and the world. This course reflects on the history of the doctrine of Providence but also relates it to these fundamental issues. The existence of evil in the light of God's goodness and God's omnipotence (the problem of the theodicy) is one of the most difficult theological issues and the way in which this issue is dealt with flows from underlying views of the doctrine of Providence. Providence is a current research theme of the chair in systematic theology and this course relates to that theme and to the more general theme of the research group Reformed and Evangelical Theology: Discerning Divine Presence. The doctrine of Providence can also be understood as a reflection on one of the ways in which God is still present in creation. By reflecting on sermons or other theological texts and by writing a sermon or speech the students will be challenged to relate biblical, historical, and systematic theology to their own theological views and the communication of them in the contemporary context.The class will consist of lectures and the close reading and discussion of theological texts in class.The students will have to write a paper on a theological text on Providence (the source text should be about 25 pages) and assess the position of the author in relation to the historical context of the text (50 %) and to write a sermon or speech related to the doctrine of Providence in the style of their own ecclesiastical background (50 %).David Fergusson, The Providence of God: A Polyphonic Approach (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019).The course is designed for MA students in Theology and Religious Studies. It is open for all master students.