Patristics among the tulips: Interdisciplinarity as a chance for theology and patristics

In this contribution the marginalisation of theology at Dutch universities forms the reason for reflecting on both the function and the chances of this academic discipline at these same universities in the light of striving for interdisciplinarity. The chances are clarified by interpreting the contrast between patrology and patristics, postulated centuries ago, as a source of inspiration for interdisciplinarity between theology and other disciplines in the Humanities. Examples from the history of theology show that the study of the Church Fathers requires, on the one hand, the patrological approach, because the historical-critical, text-critical or literary analysis of texts applied in patrology are essential to avoid the pitfall of an ideological interpretation. On the other hand, however, a strictly patrological approach may lead to one-sided subjectivism in the interpretation of the writings of early Christian authors. Affinity with (the history of) a community of interpretation, communication and reception, which is the Church of all ages, deepens the insight into the vigour of these texts. By way of conclusion the perspective of interdisciplinarity has been extended by interpreting the interaction between economics and theology as a chance for both.