Manuela Kalsky

Profile

Prof. Dr. Manuela Kalsky has held the Karen Armstrong Chair for Religion, Values and Societal Transformations at the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht since February 2023.

Her research focuses on how people from diverse religious, philosophical and cultural backgrounds can shape a good life together without erasing their differences. Drawing on feminist, postcolonial and theological perspectives, she explores the significance of religion, spirituality and worldview diversity for a just, inclusive and ecologically sustainable society. Compassion, relational humanism and the ability to connect across differences are central to her work.

Kalsky is the initiator of the interdisciplinary research group Rhizomatic Thinking and Practice at the University of Humanistic Studies, which explores how relational, non-binary ways of thinking and acting can contribute to societal transformations.

Together with Laurens van Lavieren (Theological University Utrecht) and Wilco de Vries (Theological University Utrecht), she developed the elective bachelor’s course Beyond the Self: The Good, Sustainable Life Beyond Polarisation (Groter dan ik: het goede, duurzame leven voorbij polarisatie). In this course, students formulate their own slow question concerning the climate crisis and/or polarisation. By engaging with different religious and philosophical traditions—Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Humanism and Buddhism—they explore possible answers and ways of translating their insights into social action. The course thus brings together personal development, academic knowledge of religious and philosophical traditions, and practical engagement with societal challenges.

She is also the founder of NieuwWij.nl, a platform that has promoted dialogue between people from different cultural and religious backgrounds since 2008, guided by the motto Connect the Differences.

As chair of the programme committee of the Centre for Religious Humanism, based at Villa Berg en Dal in Baarn, she is committed to fostering a pluralistic, spiritually informed humanist approach to life, bringing together academic reflection and practical engagement in society.

Throughout her work, Kalsky connects academic research, education and societal practice. A central question is how differences – including the tensions and frictions they generate – can become productive forces in developing new ways of living together.

Before joining the University of Humanistic Studies, Kalsky held the Edward Schillebeeckx Chair at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and served as director of the Dominican Study Centre for Theology and Society (DSTS).