Sjoerd Mulder

Sjoerd Mulder is an Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Tilburg School of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University. His research focuses on ecclesiology, Catholic social thought, and political theology, with a particular interest in the relationship between church and state. He holds a PhD from Tilburg University (2020), completing a comparative study of ecclesiological thought in 20th-century Roman Catholic theologians like Henri de Lubac and contemporary postliberal authors such as John Milbank. His work emphasizes the church’s role in social critique and its praxis-oriented identity.

• Key roles: Systematic Theology Lecturer, Tilburg Network for Catholic Social Thought initiator
• External positions: Teacher at Fontys Hogeschool voor Theologie en Levensbeschouwing, Reviewer at Dagblad Trouw

Research Interests:

• Ecclesiological Renewal
• Church-State Dynamics
• Political Theology
• Catholic Social Teaching
• Postliberal Theology

Publications highlight comparative analyses of theologians like Guardini, Casel, and De Lubac alongside contemporary thinkers such as Hauerwas and Healy. His book The Turn to the Church (2022) explores how ecclesiological focus aids churches navigating post-Christian societies.

He contributes reviews and interviews on religion in Trouw, and co-leads multidisciplinary research networks linking theology to policy debates.