Tilburg University receives 2.5 million euros from anonymous inheritance

An anonymous testator from Twente has left Tilburg University and three other universities ten million euros for scientific research and education. Tilburg may divide the bequest together with the universities of Twente, Wageningen and the VU in Amsterdam. Each university receives a proportional share.

The money that is due to Tilburg is intended for research that contributes to ‘achieving a harmonious society when population groups get to know and understand each other better.’

The 2.5 million euros is intended for the Center for Religion in the Public Sphere (CRiPS). In this new institute, sociologists and religious scholars from the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB) and the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology (TST) join forces for research into the role of religion and spirituality in our contemporary ‘secular’ society.

Surprised

Sociologist Peter Achterberg, co-coordinator of CRiPS, was happy and also a bit surprised with the money. A few years ago, the researchers already received 100 thousand euros from the benefactor and now another 2.4 million will be added. With that money, the center has been able to attract new employees, among other things.

Achterberg emphasizes the importance of the research. Religion plays a role not only as a moral guideline, but also as a social binding agent. And religion is still important to many people. A recent large-scale study shows that fewer and fewer Dutch people are members of a religious denomination. But it is striking that among young people, and especially Gen Z, the attitude towards church and faith is actually more positive than among the previous generation.

_Advertentie.