A Story from a PTR Student: Naomi
In September, I started the one-year Master’s programme Theology and Religious Studies: Peace, Trauma and Religion.
It’s been a few years since I finished my Bachelor’s in Media Studies at the University of Groningen. Since then, I’ve mainly worked in the documentary industry, producing socially engaged films and series for national broadcasters and global streamers. Among them are Front Row, about the United Ukrainian Ballet Company; State of Hate, about hate crimes in the US; and Psychedelisch Pionieren, about the use of psychedelics in mental health care.
Even though these were exciting and formative years, I never felt completely at place. Film production is fast-paced and dynamic, while I actually prefer to immerse myself in one topic for a longer period of time. During my Bachelor’s, I already fell in love with research — my specialization focused on politics, freedom of speech, and journalism in times of conflict. The wish to return to university never left me, which has now brought me here.
Choosing this programme wasn’t an easy decision; I actually decided just to give it a try at the very end of August. What drew me in was the personal connection I feel to its topics. I grew up in a multicultural and multireligious household: my mother is Dutch and Christian, while my father is Sri Lankan Tamil and Hindu. Although he no longer actively practices his religion, it remains an important part of his culture and identity. I was mainly raised as a Christian, but this also came with experiences of religious trauma. Since then, I’ve been on a journey through different religions and spiritual practices, which eventually brought me back to Christianity with a renewed and more peaceful relationship with faith.
What I find most interesting are the tensions within religions — opposing views, and the harm that can arise when faith is misused or turns into extremism. At the same time, I’m deeply interested in how faith can also be a source of healing and reconciliation. I’m especially curious about how all of these different views are shaped and how they might change. With my background in media studies, I also hope to explore how these dynamics manifest in the digital sphere.
So far, I’m really enjoying the programme — from the diversity of perspectives to the depth of its content. It’s quite special to study something that’s academic but also very personal. The courses not only ask us to reflect on the world around us but also on our own worldviews. That’s been deeply enlightening, and I’m excited to continue learning and growing within this field.
Naomi Kanapathypillai
After several years working in the documentary industry, Naomi Kanapathypillai returned to university to study Peace, Trauma and Religion. She’s interested in exploring how faith can both harm and heal, and how media shape our understanding of these dynamics.
