PhD program in “comparative studies of religions with the concentration on Christian theology” is a comprehensive, specialized, educational package in line with the regulations and decisions made by the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology of Iran. The program studies the different historical-theological dimensions of Christianity from the beginning to the present age. It also studies Christianity in Quran and Islam.
Religions have influenced widely the intellectual, spiritual, and social life of human beings by their different manifestations and examples. Therefore, it is highly important to study religions in general and Abrahamic religions in particular, i.e. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam given their geographical scope and wide population dispersion. The common origin, related contents, and historical ties of the three Abrahamic religions help the followers of each religion to better understand the two other religions. This in turn results in both acquiring a more precise knowledge of their own religion and establishing the interfaith dialogue.
Holding a master’s degree or an equivalent is sufficient for enrollment in this program. The previous degree of the applicant must be verified by the consulate of Iran in the issuing country. Also, matching the applicants’ previous field of study with the current program is not necessary. Upon establishing the applicants’ scholarly competency and the committee’s agreement, the applicants are eligible to study in this program regardless of their previous field of study. Previous publications including books, research papers, and journal articles can positively influence the committee’s judgment.
The PhD graduates of “comparative Studies of Religions with the concentration on Christianity” will be able to instruct or do research on different topics of Christianity at the academic and research centers; this will enhance the original knowledge in these areas. They may do as experts in analyzing the interfaith dialogue.