Research Profile
Prof. Smit’s research interest is in contemporary ecumenical systematic and public theology, particularly from a Reformed perspective. Topics include the relationship between doctrine, worship and life; implications of the faith for Christian life; the nature and calling of the church; and so-called public theology.
Teaching Profile
Teaching is done with a view to theological education for the ministry (in Protestant churches) and postgraduate students pursue their own research interests.
Selected Publications
“On Election and Hope? Conflicting Stories from Twentieth-Century South Africa,“ in T & T Clark Handbook of Election, ed. Edwin van Driel, Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 2023, 518-535
“On Theological Promise,” Stellenbosch Theological Journal Vol 9, No 1, 2023, 1–29, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17570/stj.2023.v n1.a3
“On the Witness of the Church,“ Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Peter Bubmann, Hans-Ulrich Dallmann, Helga Kuhlmann, Torsten Meireis (Hrsg.), Kritische öffentliche Theologie. Wolfgang Huber zum 80. Geburtstag, Berlin: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, 2022, 31-46
“On Politics of Friendship,“ Stellenbosch Theological Journal, Vol 7/1, 2021, 1-39, https://doi.org/10.17570/stj.2021.v7n1.a13
“On Thinking,“ Verbum et Ecclesia Vol 42(2) (special edition commemorating Wentzel van Huyssteen’s 80 birthday), 2021, 21-31 (a2311, https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v42i2.2311)
“‘Reimagining Hope with and like Children,“ Marcia Bunge (ed), Child Theology: Diverse Methods and Global Perspectives, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2021, 206-230
“On Truth-Telling,“ in Vänskap/Friendship: Festschrift för Arne Rasmusson, eds. Ola Sigurdson & Jayne Svenungsson, Malmö: Spricka Förlag, 2021, 223-242
“Reading Rightly? On Hermeneutics of Trust, Hope and Commitment,” in Jeremy Punt & Marius Nel (eds), Reading Writing Right, Essays Presented in Honour of Prof AEJ (Elna) Mouton, Stellenbosch: Africa SunMedia, 2018, 19-39.
“What Makes Worship Good?,“ in Pieter Vos (ed), Liturgy and Ethics. New Contributions from Reformed Perspectives, Leiden: Brill/Rodopi, 2018, 19-48.
“Justice as/and Compassion? On the Good Samaritan and Political Theology,“ Frits de Lange & L Juliana Claassens (eds), Considering Compassion: Global Ethics, Human Dignity and the Compassionate God, Eugene, OR: Pickwick, Wipf & Stock, 2018, 109-128
“‘Hope for Even the Most Wretched‘? On Remembering the Reformation,“ Stellenbosch Theological Journal Vol 4, No 2, 2018, 703–725
“Living with strangers? On constructing ethical discourses,“ Daniel Pedersen & Christopher Liley, eds., Human Origins and the Image of God: Essays in Honor of J. Wentzel van Huyssteen. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2017, 273-313
“Does it Matter? On whether there is Method in the Madness,” Companion to Public Theology, eds. Sebastian Kim & Katie Day, Leiden: Brill, 2017, 67-92.
“Religion and civil society in ‘South Africa‘? Searching for grammar for life together,“ in Michael Welker, Koos Vorster & Nico Koopman (eds), Church and Civil Society. German and South African Perspectives, Stellenbosch: Sun Media, 2017, 63-106
Contact
Princeton Theological Seminary
P.O. Box 821
64 Mercer Street
Princeton, NJ 08542-0803
Phone: +1 609.497.7952
Email: dirk.smit@ptsem.edu
Homepage: https://www.ptsem.edu/people/dirk-j-smit
