Theos

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Understanding faith. Enriching society.

Theos stimulates the debate about the place of religion in society, challenging and changing ideas through research, commentary and events.

Comment — Latest

Natan Mladin introduces Theos’ upcoming report, ‘Forgive us Our Debts’ and explains why we need to start a better conversation about debt.
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Interview — Latest

Nick Spencer speaks to Eric Kaufmann about immigration, identity, the populist Right and his book ‘Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Minorities’.
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Comment — Latest

Paul Bickley reflects on 2018, and looks at the year ahead
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Media — Latest

BBC News: Nick Spencer comments on the case of Jordi Casamitjana, who wants to establish ethical veganism as a belief protected by law.
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Events — Latest

Michael Gove MP gave the 2018 Annual Lecture on ‘A Harvest for the World: Environmental justice, stewardship and the moral purpose of government.’
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Report — Latest

Paul Bickley explores the role of churches in building neighbourhood resilience – helping them overcome challenge and disruptive change.
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Interview — Latest

The Sacred podcast explores how we can have better public conversations about the things we value, despite our differences. It is presented by our Director, Elizabeth Oldfield.
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Comment

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Stamp them out or compromise? How to respond to extremists

Ben Ryan argues that minority political groups with extreme ideas can easily shape the views of the mainstream majority. 01/03/2019

Activism, Brexit, Britain, Extremism, Politics

Antisemitism: the Jewish community is speaking. Will they be heard?

With Antisemitism on the rise, Angus Ritchie argues that the Labour Party and the political left are ignoring the problem. 28/02/2019

Britain, Judaism, Labour Party, Politics

The Sacred #33: Christina Patterson

In the 33rd episode of The Sacred, Elizabeth Oldfield talks to writer, broadcaster and Independent columnist Christina Patterson. 26/02/2019

Atheism, Bible, Conversion, Evangelical Christianity, Faith, Fiction, Media, Poetry, The Sacred

Sharia law: What it is, what it isn’t, and why you should know

Simon Perfect unpacks the basics of Islamic law and explores the controversies around shari’a councils in Britain. 25/02/2019

Freedom of Religion, Islam, Law

Latest thoughts from the Theos team and guest contributors on current issues around religion and society.

Among the most pressing political challenges of our time is to define the politics of the common good – ways of resisting the relentless commodification of our lives, our families and our communities. Theos shows us how the Christian tradition has a huge part to play in meeting that challenge.

Jon Cruddas MP

Research

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London is bucking nationwide trends and becoming more religious. The project seeks to analyse this phenomenon and offer evidence–based recommendations to decision makers on accommodating, practically responding to and making the most of religious diversity in London. (Upcoming)

Britain, Christianity, Communities, Faith, Identity, Religion

Reports

Prepare your church for emergency response: Lessons from Grenfell

Amy Plender

This guide draws on our research into faith group responses to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and can be used in emergency response preparation. (2018)

Britain, Christianity, Church, Communities, Religion, Social Action, Trauma

Reports Download

People, Place, and Purpose: Churches and Neighbourhood Resilience

Paul Bickley

Paul Bickley explores the role of churches in building neighbourhood resilience – helping them overcome challenge and disruptive change. (2018)

Brexit, British Values, Churches, Communities

Reports Buy Download

The Future of Religious Education: Debating Reform

Simon Perfect

RE faces very significant challenges. This paper summarises a series of expert discussions about the subject’s future, hosted by Theos in 2017. (2018)

Education, Religious Education

Reports Download

After Grenfell: the Faith Groups’ Response

Amy Plender

A study into the responses of faith groups to the Grenfell Tower tragedy on 14th June 2017. (2018)

Charity, Communities, Faith, Social Action

Reports Buy Download

Theos researches and investigates the intersection of religion, politics and society in the contemporary world.

Theos is a body that commands attention.

The Economist

Events

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14 March 2019

State, Church and Community

In a time of increasing polarisation, how can the churches help us build the common good? Our third debate on State, Society and the Common Good.

30 January 2019

Forgive Us Our Debts

This event will launch the report ‘Forgive Us Our Debts’ which examines personal, corporate and government debt in the UK within an ethical framework.

22 November 2018

Michael Gove: When will there be a harvest for the world?

Michael Gove, MP and Environment Secretary, on environmental justice, stewardship and the moral purpose of government at Theos’ annual lecture 2018.

23 June 2018

Nick Spencer and Steven Pinker: The future of humanity

Theos’ Nick Spencer and Harvard professor Steven Pinker debate science, reason and humanism, recorded for the video series ‘Unbelievable?’

Theos hosts public debates, discussions and lectures about relgion and society.

Theos has done a huge amount to raise the level of public debate about religion. It has won respect for its high–quality research and respect for honest enquiry.

Linda Woodhead, Professor, Sociology of Religion, Lancaster University

In the news

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Will we worship artificial intelligence in the future?

Elizabeth Oldfield argues that robots would make terrible gods in this video for BBC Ideas. 19/02/2019

The brutish origins of British liberalism

Nick Spencer reviews James Simpson’s ‘Permanent Revolution: The Reformation and the Illiberal Roots of Liberalism’ for The Spectator. 14/02/2019

Simon Perfect discusses extreme speakers at universities on Radio 4’s Sunday Programme

Simon Perfect discusses extreme speakers and whether or not their speeches at British universities are being properly monitored. 28/01/2019

London bucks trend of declining church congregations

The Financial Times quotes Paul Bickley in their coverage of church growth in London. 04/01/2019

Theos is regularly quoted in mainstream media across broadcast, print and digital.

Audio & Podcasts

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The Sacred podcast explores how we can have better public conversations about the things we value, despite our differences. It is presented by our Director, Elizabeth Oldfield.

Understanding faith. Enriching society.

Comment — Latest

Natan Mladin introduces Theos’ upcoming report, ‘Forgive us Our Debts’ and explains why we need to start a better conversation about debt.

Interview — Latest

Nick Spencer speaks to Eric Kaufmann about immigration, identity, the populist Right and his book ‘Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Minorities’.

Comment — Latest

Paul Bickley reflects on 2018, and looks at the year ahead

Media — Latest

BBC News: Nick Spencer comments on the case of Jordi Casamitjana, who wants to establish ethical veganism as a belief protected by law.

Events — Latest

Michael Gove MP gave the 2018 Annual Lecture on ‘A Harvest for the World: Environmental justice, stewardship and the moral purpose of government.’

Report — Latest

Paul Bickley explores the role of churches in building neighbourhood resilience – helping them overcome challenge and disruptive change.

Interview — Latest

The Sacred podcast explores how we can have better public conversations about the things we value, despite our differences. It is presented by our Director, Elizabeth Oldfield.

Stamp them out or compromise? How to respond to extremists

Antisemitism: the Jewish community is speaking. Will they be heard?

The Sacred #33: Christina Patterson

Sharia law: What it is, what it isn’t, and why you should know

Among the most pressing political challenges of our time is to define the politics of the common good – ways of resisting the relentless commodification of our lives, our families and our communities. Theos shows us how the Christian tradition has a huge part to play in meeting that challenge.

Religious London

The Theos Team

Prepare your church for emergency response: Lessons from Grenfell

Amy Plender

People, Place, and Purpose: Churches and Neighbourhood Resilience

Paul Bickley

The Future of Religious Education: Debating Reform

Simon Perfect

After Grenfell: the Faith Groups’ Response

Amy Plender

Theos is a body that commands attention.

14 March 2019

State, Church and Community

30 January 2019

Forgive Us Our Debts

22 November 2018

Michael Gove: When will there be a harvest for the world?

23 June 2018

Nick Spencer and Steven Pinker: The future of humanity

Theos has done a huge amount to raise the level of public debate about religion. It has won respect for its high–quality research and respect for honest enquiry.

Will we worship artificial intelligence in the future?

The brutish origins of British liberalism

Simon Perfect discusses extreme speakers at universities on Radio 4’s Sunday Programme

London bucks trend of declining church congregations

The Sacred #33: Christina Patterson

Nick Spencer in conversation with Julian Baggini

The Sacred #32: James Cary

Nick Spencer in conversation with Guy Stagg