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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.

Feature — Religion Counts 2024

Animation — Latest

Watch ‘Dying for Beginners’ feat. Dr Kathryn Mannix

Comment

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Productive Habits: Exploring productivity and the religious life

Hannah Rich explores what might we learn about productivity from those who – like nuns – have committed their life to religious orders. 13/09/2024

Productivity

What does productivity mean to me?

Taken from our new report More: The Problem with Productivity, we share stories of how productivity is understood in different industries. 12/09/2024

Productivity

What does it mean to live vulnerably?

Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with philosopher Sam Kimbriel in bonus episode of The Sacred recorded at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival. 28/08/2024

Philosophy, Podcast, The Sacred

Putting the family into tax policy

Philip Booth unpacks the issues that our current taxation policies present for families. Is there a better way forward? 13/08/2024

Christianity, Family, Finance

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

Research

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More: The problem with productivity

Nick Spencer, Hannah Rich and Nathan Mladin

Nick Spencer, Hannah Rich and Nathan Mladin’s report questioning the dominant narrative around productivity. 11/09/2024

Productivity

Reports Download

Religion Counts: National identity and Scottish Independence

Paul Bickley, George Lapshynov and Yinxuan Huang

The Religion Counts team explore how religious people in Britain feel about their national identity, with a special section on Scotland casting light on attitudes towards independence. 26/06/2024

Britain, Identity, Nationalism, Nationhood, Religion Counts

Reports

Religion Counts: What do the religious think about key election issues?

Paul Bickley, George Lapshynov and Yinxuan Huang

The Religion Counts team explore how religious people in Britain feel about the most important issues facing the UK at this time. 12/06/2024

Religion Counts

Reports

Religion Counts: Economic and social values

Paul Bickley, George Lapshynov and Yinxuan Huang

The Religion Counts team explore how the religious affiliation and practices of the British people map onto the two scales of economic and social attitudes. 29/05/2024

Religion Counts

Reports

Religion Counts: Do the religious feel like they can make a difference?

Paul Bickley, George Lapshynov and Yinxuan Huang

The Religion Counts team explore the question of whether people in different religious groups feel that they can make a difference. 29/05/2024

Religion Counts

Reports

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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Religion Counts online launch

An online launch event, hosted by the Religion Media Centre, covering the first two briefings of our Religion Counts research. 13/05/2024

Love’s Labours: Good work, care work and a mutual economy – launch event

Join Theos to explore how social care is a key arena for the intersection between love and work – part of our new report series: Work Shift.

The Spirit of Our Politics: Michael Wear and Marvin Rees in conversation

Join Chine McDonald as she hosts Michael Wear and Marvin Rees in a discussion about Michael’s book ‘The Spirit of our Politics’ 18/02/2024

Reading Our Times Live: In conversation with Robert Skidelsky

Join Nick Spencer for a live recording of Reading Our Times where he will be joined by economist and member of the House of Lords Robert Skidelsky.

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

In the news

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We need a national effort to rebuild communities after riots

In a joint letter, Theos call for a government inquiry on bringing people together in the wake of the recent far–right riots. 15/08/2024

We no longer want to confront the reality of death

Theos’s report Love, Grief, and Hope: Emotional responses to death and dying in the UK features in The Telegraph. 29/11/2023

Why I believe a good funeral can be just as memorable and life–affirming as a wedding (and to deny your family one is selfish)

Theos’s report Love, Grief, and Hope: Emotional responses to death and dying in the UK features in the Daily Mail. 28/11/2023

Let’s resurrect the art of celebrating death

Theos’s report Love, Grief, and Hope: Emotional responses to death and dying in the UK features in The Times. 28/11/2023

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

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

Audio & Podcasts

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Jonathan Haidt on Religion, Psychedelics and the Anxious Generation

Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. 27/03/2024

Mental Health, Podcast, Psychology, Social Media, The Sacred

Chris Packham on Love, Grief and Autism

Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham. 21/02/2024

Activism, Disability, Documentary, Faith, Nature, Podcast, The Sacred

Whatever happened to the human mind? In conversation with Marilynne Robinson

Nick Spencer talks to Marilynne Robinson about her book Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self. 23/05/2023

Podcast, Reading Our Times

Theos produces two podcasts: The Sacred, exploring how we can have better public conversations about the things we value, despite our differences; and Reading Our Times, exploring the books and ideas that are shaping us today.

Understanding faith. Enriching society.

Animation — Latest

Productive Habits: Exploring productivity and the religious life

What does productivity mean to me?

What does it mean to live vulnerably?

Putting the family into tax policy

More: The problem with productivity

Nick Spencer, Hannah Rich and Nathan Mladin

Religion Counts: National identity and Scottish Independence

Paul Bickley, George Lapshynov and Yinxuan Huang

Religion Counts: What do the religious think about key election issues?

Paul Bickley, George Lapshynov and Yinxuan Huang

Religion Counts: Economic and social values

Paul Bickley, George Lapshynov and Yinxuan Huang

Religion Counts: Do the religious feel like they can make a difference?

Paul Bickley, George Lapshynov and Yinxuan Huang

Theos is a body that commands attention.

15 May 2024

Religion Counts online launch

23 April 2024

Love’s Labours: Good work, care work and a mutual economy – launch event

16 April 2024

The Spirit of Our Politics: Michael Wear and Marvin Rees in conversation

28 November 2023

Reading Our Times Live: In conversation with Robert Skidelsky

We need a national effort to rebuild communities after riots

We no longer want to confront the reality of death

Why I believe a good funeral can be just as memorable and life–affirming as a wedding (and to deny your family one is selfish)

Let’s resurrect the art of celebrating death

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.

Jonathan Haidt on Religion, Psychedelics and the Anxious Generation

Chris Packham on Love, Grief and Autism

Whatever happened to the human mind? In conversation with Marilynne Robinson