An independent faith-based research institution

New Research Project

The Foundation, via its research agreement with the University of Chester, and in partnership with the University of Liverpool, has secured a contract to run a 17 month research network for the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The Philosophy and Practices of Religion Network (PDF 200K) aims to explore the relationship between philosophical ideas, communities of religion and how public life (including public policy) is created. It will conclude its work in April 2014.

We aim to continue the visionary thinking of Archbishop William Temple about the ongoing search for a just and inclusive society.

We research into:

Breaking News....

 

Chris Baker and Justin Beaumont (University of Groningen) will be chairing three sessions at the Association of American Geographers Conference in Los Angeles (April 9th - 13th, 2013) on the themes of 'Rising to the Challenge - defining the contours of a new 21st century critical urban theory' (PDF 415K). It builds on the success of their jointly-edited book Postsecular Cities - Space, Theory and Practice published in 2011 and it is hoped that some of the papers will appear in a special edition of City journal in 2014.

John Reader will publish his latest book (January 2013) with Caroline Baillie and Jens Kabo entitled Heterotopia - Alternative Pathways to Social Justice. It is published by John Hunt Publishing.

John Atherton has just secured a contract for a new book for publication by SCM Press in 2015. Entitled Religion and Progressive Change - Towards a New Religous Studies it will expand on the inaugural lecture John gave at the University of Chester in September 2011 as Visiting Professor in Religion, Ethics and Economics. Click here.

John Reader (Senior Research Fellow) and Chris Baker (Director), together with Daniel Whistler from the University of Liverpool, have just edited a special edition of the journal Political Theology. Published in April 2012, it is entitled Speculative Philosophies and Religious Practices, and it emerged from the first ever meeting of philosophers of religion and practical/public theologians held at the Centre for Faiths and Public Policy conference earlier this year of the same name. Contributors include Graeme Smith, Katharine Moody, Elaine Graham, Beverley Clack, John Reader, Anna Strhan.

Dispatches from the Frontline - read the first in a new series of response papers from the WTF Council to current social, polititical, economic and religious issues entitled, Spiritual Progression in Economic Recession?

John Reader, one of our Senior Research Fellows, continues his recent publishing run with a new book for SCM Press entitled Theological Reflection for Human Flourishing. Co-authored with Helen Cameron, Victoria Slater and Chris Rowland, it comes out later in 2012 and is the first collaboration between WTF and the Oxford Centre for Ecclesiology and Practical Theology. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Theological-Reflection-Human-Flourishing-Encounters/dp/0334043905

John Atherton and Chris Baker are both giving papers at a conference which is a follow-on to the Speculative Philosophies and Religious Practices event held at the University of Chester in 2011. The conference is entitled Educating Wellbeing - The Contributions of Philosophy and Religion and is held at Liverpool University on 10th February 2012. http://philevents.org/event/show/910

We are very excited about the new directions and purposes agreed by the Council of the Foundation and contained within our Development Plan 2011 - 2016. We think it creates a clear direction for the Foundation's travel over what is likely to be a very challenging, but also hugely exciting period for society and religion in the UK and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Research papers

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