This department, unique among Japan’s national university corporations, was founded to meet the need for studying Christianity from non-theological and non-denominational standpoints. It aims at an understanding of Christianity in its essence and in its historical development. The emphasis is on Biblical studies, the history of Christian thought (patristic, Reformation and modern thought) and the systematic theology and philosophy of religion. The following courses are offered: Biblical Hebrew, Old Testament Exegesis, New Testament Exegesis, History of Christian Thought (Seminars on Hannah Arendt, Pannenberg, Seiichi Hatano), Systematic Theology, and Philosophy of Religion. Kirisutokyogaku Kenkyu (Journal of Christian Studies) is published annually by the Society of Christian Studies, Kyoto University.

• http://www.bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/christ/en/index.html