In a variety of Western European countries, the academic disciplines of Theology and Religious Studies (TRS) are facing pressing challenges that urge them to reconsider their place and purpose at public universities. In various contexts, a rapprochement between the two disciplines can be witnessed, sometimes leading to merged 'TRS'-faculties, inspired by the way British universities have merged theology and religious studies for some decades. These merged faculties and departments may thus function as frontier areas of a new 'TRS- approach' in the academic study of religion. In this paper, I present the results of qualitative research undertaken at three Dutch universities that have recently adopted a TRS-approach (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Groningen). Has the (nominal) rapprochement of theology and religious studies at these universities led to a transformative dialogue between the two disciplines? Do the stumbling blocks of old, such as those of normativity, transcendence and authority, still impede convergence or have new challenges emerged? Based on a discourse analysis of eighteen interviews, the dynamic between the disciplinary poles of 'theology' and 'religious studies' will be illustrated. By discerning the tensions, challenges and opportunities, new avenues towards a fruitful future of the field will hopefully emerge.