Open doctoral topics | Specialisation in Religious Studies

GeneralDOCRS-2026-07: Reciprocal and Transformative “interculturality”: Perspectives From Aesthetics, Spirituality, Theological Anthropology and Missiology

This research investigates the transformative power of "Interculturality" as a fundamental theological category, moving beyond mere multicultural coexistence toward a reciprocal exchange that reshapes the Christian experience. While traditional missiology has often prioritised linguistic and doctrinal transmission, this study argues that the "Way of Beauty" (via pulchritudinis) serves as a primary locus for intercultural encounter.

The dissertation explores how the integration of diverse cultural aesthetics—manifested in ritual, symbol, and sacred art—reconfigures Spirituality and Missiology within international religious communities. By analysing Consecrated Life as a living laboratory for these encounters, the research seeks to determine how the "intercultural shift" challenges and expands traditional Theological Anthropology. Specifically, it questions whether a Western-centric understanding of the Imago Dei can transition toward a more "polyhedric" anthropology that honours the particularity of cultural expression as essential to the human vocation.
Ultimately, this study proposes a renewed missiological framework where aesthetics are not merely decorative but are constitutive of a global theology of interculturality that recognises the Holy Spirit’s presence in the "otherness" of the neighbour.

Supervisor(s): Judette Gallares (judette.gallares@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Intercultural Theology, Aesthetics, Mission, Consecrated Life, Theological Anthropology

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GeneralDOCRS-2026-06: An Intercultural Approach to Theology, Mission, and Integral Formation for Christians and Consecrated Persons in an Age of Globalization and Pluralism

This thesis investigates the evolving landscape of Christian theologizing within the dual pressures of globalization and radical pluralism. As traditional borders—geographic, cultural, and religious—continue to dissolve, the Church faces the urgent challenge of articulating a faith that is both locally grounded and globally relevant.

The research first establishes a framework for Intercultural Theology, moving beyond mere multicultural coexistence toward a dynamic, reciprocal exchange that respects particularity while seeking universal communion. It then critiques the impacts of globalization on ecclesial identity, examining how the "compression of the world" affects the Christian Mission (missio Dei). Central to this study is the shift from a unidirectional colonial model of mission to a multidirectional, dialogical approach.

Finally, the thesis evaluates the practical implications for the Integral Formation of both the laity and those in Consecrated Life. It argues that formation in a pluralistic age must move beyond dogmatic insulation toward a "pedagogy of encounter." By integrating intercultural competencies with spiritual depth, the research proposes a model for formation that prepares Christians to be agents of reconciliation and hope in a fragmented global society.

Supervisor(s): Judette Gallares (judette.gallares@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Intercultural Theology, Globalisation, Pluralism, Mission, Consecrated Life

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GeneralDOCRS-2026-05: Canon law with the specific themes of the relationship between canon law and civil law, canonical jurisprudence on marriage, natural law and canon law, and the practical application of canon law in parish life

Never have people grown so concerned about “human rights” as in our time. Yet, human life has seldom been so much threatened by permissive legislations, bio experimentation, violence and abuse of any kind, as nowadays. This has an explanation: The legal has been dissociated from the rational; the law, from the human nature, to become a political deterrent. This makes it urgent invoking the ever-dynamic Natural Law as the rational foundation of all human law.
Canon law, a vital instrument for the ecclesial society, is a unique example of a legal body composed of norms of both divine and human origin. In it, the general principles of law are called to be observed with “canonical equity,” meaning, “justice tempered with mercy.” Married life is one of its fields that most eloquently speaks of this.

Supervisor(s): Javier Gonzalez (javier.gonzalez@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Canon Law, Civil Law, Natural Law, Marriage, Human Rights

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GeneralDOCRS-2026-04: Documenting the use of modern Chinese liturgical and scriptural traditions among Cantonese speaking faithful in Macau

The introduction of the vernacular in Catholic worship is not something new, but with the use of each language or dialect comes a plethora of associated linguistic phenomena which sometimes defy literary, oral, and auricular consistencies. And one prominent example of this would be the practice of using written Chinese liturgical and scriptural texts (composed according to Mandarin grammar) but pronouncing them with Cantonese sounds, which is virtually unintelligible to those who only speak Cantonese but do not read Chinese (at one time a significant proportion of Macanese Catholics belonged to this category, as although they were conversant in colloquial Cantonese, their schooling would have been mainly in Portuguese; as are the less educated older population from Guangdong and parts of Guangxi province). How is Truth, then, effectively proclaimed, preached and perceived? A detailed documentation of this particular liturgical practice and a critical analysis of its merits or pitfalls will be a useful take on a yet to be fully explored living pastoral reality.

Supervisor(s): Cyril Jerome Jr Law (cyril.law@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Cantonese, Liturgy, Mandarin, Translation, Inculturation

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GeneralDOCRS-2026-03: The history of the development of philosophical and theological training in Macau since the Second Vatican Council (1962-65)

The intellectual and humanistic formation of missionaries has long been one of the features that defines Macau's place in the history of the Catholic Church in the far East. Scholarly studies on this missiological aspect of Macau abounds. But research is much needed when it comes to an "introspection" of how the Church in Macau implemented the post-Vatican II reconfigurations of clerical studies according to developing canonical requirements. Topics tightly connected with such studies include the social and political circumstances of Macau from the 1960s onwards which continue to exert considerable influence in shaping the local institutions of philosophical and theological training.

Supervisor(s): Cyril Jerome Jr Law (cyril.law@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Macau Studies, Seminary, Formation of Missionaries

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GeneralDOCRS-2026-02: The correlation between the changing social roles/influence of the different ethnic catholic communities and their ecclesial/parochial involvement in Macau since the 1999 handover

Like in many Lusophone territories, Catholicism in Macau is one which exhibits high interdependency and intricate subtleties between ethnicities, nationalities, cultural identities, languages/dialects, customs, social statuses, and beliefs. An investigative and integral research into the demographic transitions of the various Catholic ethnic communities (Portuguese, Macanese, Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Indian, other European and Anglophone expats, etc.) in connection with their levels of engagements in the local Church since 1999 would definitely fill a lacuna in the area of Macau Studies.

Supervisor(s): Cyril Jerome Jr Law (cyril.law@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Macau Studies, Migration, Parish, Catholicism, Church History of China

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GeneralDOCRS-2026-01: Medieval and Early Modern Theology: With a Focus on Thomas Aquinas’ Theology

This project examines the theology of Thomas Aquinas and the Thomistic school, tracing their development from the medieval period into the early modern era. It particularly welcomes topics related to Thomas Aquinas's theology of grace and to how early modern Thomists (e.g. Cajetan, Báñez, John of St Thomas) interpreted, defended, and adapted his teaching in response to the new intellectual context.

Supervisor(s): Thomas Cai (thomas.cai@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Theology, Thomas Aquinas, Medieval Theology, Early Modern Theology

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GeneralDOCRS-2025-08: Ancient Greek Philosophy and the Origins of Christianity

“Ancient Greek Philosophy and the Origins of Christianity” involves the comparative study of authors and works of ancient philosophy (especially Greek) and the foundational texts of Christianity, which are mainly the books that make up the Bible, especially the New Testament (among which, the four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - are central, as they narrate the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ). The comparative study to be conducted should be based on a concept that is found in both texts or that has been transformed into a similar (or radically opposite) concept. In this sense, questions of translation or language will be welcomed, as will questions regarding how concepts have lost their spiritual meaning in contemporary society.

Supervisor(s): Franz Gassner (franz.gassner@usj.edu.mo), Paulo Alexandre e Castro (paecastro@gmail.com)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Ancient Philosophy, Aristotle, Plato, Pre-Socratic Philosophers, Bible

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GeneralDOCRS-2025-06: Spiritual and Religious Resources for Sustainable Life-styles and Development

The project sets out with the existing body of research on the relevance of spiritual and religious resources for Sustainable Development (SD) (e.g. State of the World 2010; Laudatu Si'; Education for SD), and enriches the expertise by exploring and integrating selected philosophical, spiritual and religious traditions - especially of the Asian and Chinese context. The aim is to retrieve, consistently present and integrate meaningful resources and traditions that help to foster sustainable life-styles and societies (and reach SDGs), e.g. the relevance of finding and practicing life-giving limits, such as the virtue of temperance and moderation, or of fasting. Research results will enrich contemporary Christian Social Teaching and Moral Theology and shall deliver elements for a consistent Resource and Consumer Ethics serving sustainable life-styles and societies.

Supervisor(s): Franz Gassner (franz.gassner@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Social Ethics, Laudatu Si', Sustainable Development, life-style, fasting

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GeneralDOCRS-2025-07: Contemporary Hermeneutics of Biblical and Other Classical Literature

"Contemporary Hermeneutics of Biblical and Classical Literature" involves the study of modern interpretive methods applied to the texts of the Bible and the works of classical antiquity. This field delves into how contemporary theories of interpretation and criticism, such as reader-response theory, feminist theory, post-colonialism, and post-structuralism, are used to analyze and reinterpret these foundational texts. It seeks to uncover new meanings and insights that resonate with current societal values and issues, while also respecting the historical and cultural contexts in which these texts were originally produced. Scholars in this area may explore various themes such as the influence of historical context on interpretation, the interaction between text and reader, and the ways in which these ancient writings continue to influence modern thought and culture. The goal is to provide a deeper understanding of both the texts themselves and the ways they can be applied or understood in the contemporary world, thereby enriching both academic discourse and broader cultural conversations. This interdisciplinary approach often draws on methodologies from fields such as literary studies, philosophy, theology, and cultural studies.

Supervisor(s): Andrew Leong (andrew.leong@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Hermeneutics, Bible, Literature

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GeneralDOCRS-2025-05: Ecclesiology and Cultural Theory

Professor Percy supervises theses in the field of Ecclesiology and Cultural Theory, explaining the relationship between imperialism, democracy and ecclesial polity. For
example, English Anglicanism has developed itself as the lead character within its own ‘serious fiction’ (c.f., Edward Said, “the imagination of empire”) – the main religious player in a drama of empire and church. Yet, in collusion with colonialism, the Church of England has now become a captive entrapped within a narrative of its own composition.

English interests concealed the extent to which slavery, exploitation, classism, and racism played their part in bolstering both the Empire and the Church by adopting elitist and hierarchical worldviews. Religious, social and political imperialism are founded on the deprecation of others. Yet, at the same time, those deprecated peoples fought for equality and independence.

Supervisor(s): Martyn Percy (martyn.percy@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Ecclesiology and Cultural Theory, Imperialism, Democracy and Ecclesial Polity, English Anglicanism

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GeneralDOCRS-2025-04: Ministry Studies and Congregational Studies

Professor Percy supervises in Pastoral and Practical Theology, with a unique concentration on Ministry Studies and Congregational Studies. He has examined and supervised this field extensively and welcomes students who want to pursue research in this field. He works in contextual, practical and pastoral theology and in the field of ecclesiology, exploring and explaining the situation of Christianity in contemporary culture, which forms the core of his concerns.

His published works in this arena include Clergy: The Origin of Species, (Bloomsbury & T&T Clark International, 2006), The SPCK Handbook of the Study of Ministry, (eds. with I. Markham & E. Percy), SPCK, 2019) and Clergy, Culture and Ministry: The Dynamics of Roles and Relations in Church and Society, Ian Tomlinson & Martyn Percy SCM-Research Press, 2017.

Supervisor(s): Martyn Percy (martyn.percy@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Ministry Studies, Congregational Studies, Christianity in Contemporary Culture

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GeneralDOCRS-2025-03 : Anglican Theology and Ecclesiology

Professor Percy supervises students undertaking research in Anglican theology and ecclesiology. In 2002, he founded the Society for the Study of Anglicanism at the American Academy of Religion, focusing on the interdisciplinary study of Anglican theology and ecclesiology. He supervises doctorates and also extensively examines this field.

His monographs in the field include Anglicanism: Confidence, Commitment, Communion ( Routledge, 2013), The Future Shapes of Anglicanism: Charts, Currents, Contours, (Routledge, 2017), Comprehension and Communion: Samuel Seabury and the Church, (Wipf & Stock, 2025) The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery and Revolt in the Church of England, (Hurst Publishing, 2025) and The Oxford Handbook of Anglican Studies, (with Mark Chapman, Oxford University Press, 2014).

Recent significant work in the field includes editing the Journal of Anglican Studies (2024, volume 22 issue 2) on safeguarding practices.

Supervisor(s): Martyn Percy (martyn.percy@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Anglican Theology, Anglican Ecclesiology, Anglican Studies

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GeneralDOCRS-2025-02 : Contemporary Fundamentalism and Revivalism

Professor Percy’s original doctoral research drew on anthropology, sociology and theology – and primarily focussed on contemporary fundamentalism and revivalism,
developing a novel framework to enable a richer understanding of the conflation between divine and human power (e.g., teaching, leadership, polity, structures,
governance, reification, etc) in churches and Christian movements. He has published extensively in this field. This includes congregational studies and ethnography. His
post-doctoral research concerned theories and practices in power and authority within modern cultural-ecclesial contexts. Recent work focuses on the study of churches, denominations, organisations and institutions, education, ecclesiology, social theory (esp. anthropology) and theology, and the
parameters of contemporary religion.

More recently, Prof. Percy has developed work that explores the challenges posed by contemporary culture to those engaged in ministry, with work including The Exiled Church: Reckoning with Faith in Secular Culture, (Canterbury-SCM Press 2025), The Precarious Church: Redeeming the Body of Christ (Canterbury-SCM 2025), and The
Humble Church: Renewing the Body of Christ, (Canterbury-SCM, 2021).

Supervisor(s): Martyn Percy (martyn.percy@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Contemporary Fundamentalism and Revivalism, Conflation between Divine and Human Power, Parameters of Contemporary Religion, Modern Cultural-Ecclesial Contexts

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GeneralDOCRS-2025-01: Faith Communities, Secularisation and Religious Resilience

Professor Percy’s work is broadly situated at the nexus of religion, society, ethics, and global futures. He supervises projects that focus on faith communities, secularisation
and religious resilience. His work in ecclesiology centres on the church's performance, policies, practices, and theologies, with particular attention to the
identity and development of denominations in the 21st century.

Recent work on the economic contribution of the slave trade to the enhancement of developed world denominations has brought international attention to the study of ecclesial polity, ethics, and financial history. This includes working in areas such as climate crises, whose consequences are indiscriminate in the challenges they pose to nations, societies, communities, faiths, denominations, and individuals.

Supervisor(s): Martyn Percy (martyn.percy@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: Faith Communities, Secularisation and Religious Resilience, Church's Performance, Policies, Practices, and Theologies

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GeneralDOCRS-2024-02: Dogmatic Theology

Dogmatic theology is a discipline seeking to understand the Christian faith, particularly the confession of faith expressed in the credo. It entails the speculative study of God and his works, such as the doctrine of God, Christology (e.g. the hypostatic union of two natures in Christ, the life of Christ), redemption(e.g. the nature of grace, the last things), Sacraments (e.g. general principles of sacramental theology, the nature of each sacrament). Following Scripture and Church tradition, dogmatic theology engages in the explanation of the content of Christian faith in a coherent way and in dialogue with different cultures.

Supervisor(s): Thomas Cai (thomas.cai@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: N/A

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GeneralDOCRS-2024-03: Biblical and Linguistic Studies

Biblical studies focus on scriptural texts in three different dimensions. First, from a historical perspective, what a given biblical passage might or could have meant for the intended audience was first composed. Second, from a literary perspective, how a given biblical passage achieves its rhetorical goal, constructs its narrative progression, and how the textual and lexical elements within a course relate to each other semantically, linguistically, and semiotically. Finally, biblical studies approach scriptural texts concerning how they have been or are being received by the different generations of their readers. For example, how a given biblical text should be interpreted as part of the canonical bible; how a given biblical passage has been used in history. Contemporary biblical hermeneutics propose to approach the text from perspectives inspired by the fruit of the latest insights of human sciences, e.g., sociological, psychological, and other contextual approaches are also possible perspectives for modern readers to appreciate and appropriate the inexhaustible meanings of the biblical texts.

Supervisor(s): Andrew Leong (andrew.leong@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy

Keywords: N/A

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Last Updated: January 24, 2024 at 1:51 pm

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