Standard but Unique

Petr Gallus graduated from Protestant Theology at the PTF CU where he is now the vice dean and also teaches several subjects. He spent part of his study years in Germany, where he worked as assistant professor at the Heidelberg university. He was also a minister of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren for some time. 

What is specific for the PTF CU? 

The PTF CU is the only place you can study Protestant theology in the Czech Republic, so that in itself, rather undeservedly, makes us quite specific. However, compared to foreign Protestant Theology faculties, we are a standard institution with everything that the Protestant Theological Faculty has involved since the times of the Reformation. The organisational structure of the studies at the PTF CU has been inspired by German universities, which is a notable benefit for students who want to study abroad. Joining the local system there and then returning to the Czech Republic is a smooth process. 

What else contributes to the unique nature of your faculty? 

Diversity is a very significant aspect. This applies not only to the students, but especially to the teachers. They come from various places, Christian religious traditions, they have varying interests. We have members of all Christian denominations, as well as non-believers.  So you really come across a large number of different approaches, opinions, people. We try to involve the students in a broad discussion concerning the place that faith and religion have in today’s world. It is up to each of them to find their own answer. Our faculty is the smallest within the Charles University, which makes managing the faculty as well as communicating with the students easier. We know every student by name and our study groups are relatively small.   

Where do your graduates work?

There are two bachelor’s degree programmes that can be studied at our faculty apart from Protestant Theology: Theology of Christian Traditions and Social and Pastoral Work. Graduates of the latter (who can also obtain a master’s degree from this programme) can go on to become social workers or they can become part of crisis-situation teams. Graduates of the Theology of Christian Traditions programme gain a general knowledge of the various Christian branches and the place of Christianity within the context of interreligious dialogue; they receive a general humanities education and can go on to work as teachers, civil servants, etc. Graduates of Protestant Theology often work as ministers or pastors of their own churches. However, they can also find work as teachers, public servants, or they can work in the non-profit sector. Students that graduate from any programme at our faculty should gain the general humanities skills, such as being able to formulate and write a text, navigate through a complex problem and find a suitable solution. 

Is it necessary for applicants wishing to study at the PTF CU to have any previous experience with religion, or in other words, do they need to believe in God?  

Certainly not. University studies are available to anybody who can prove the sufficient amount of knowledge during admission examinations, it is not a matter of the applicants’ religious beliefs or their philosophical views. However, students must be aware that dealing with faith will be a part of their studies. They will have an opportunity to find out what faith means and what role it plays in today’s world. 

Can students of the PTF CU spend some time abroad as part of their studies? Where do they travel the most often?

Yes, they can. It has been a fact for several years now that any student of our faculty who wishes to spend a part of their studies abroad can do so. Our students have countless possibilities of where to travel, whether they choose Europe within the ERASMUS programme, or other destinations, for example the United States, using other programmes. The most favourite destinations are Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Finland, and Austria. 

What does Theology mean to you? 

Theology is both my job and my hobby. To me, theology is a critical way of thinking about faith, which starts to become less of a strictly defined matter and becomes a diverse space full of possibilities and questions. You could say theology is the interesting critical mirror of faith.

Barbora Dvořáková
Previously published in the Absolvent magazine, abridged