An independent faith-based research institution
Christianity and the New Social Order - a manifesto for a fairer society (SPCK, 2011) - now published (click here)
Launched House of Lords, October 17th 2011
We aim to continue the visionary thinking of Archbishop William Temple about the ongoing search for a just and inclusive society.
We research into:
- Faith-based engagement in civil society
- Contribution of religion to wellbeing and happiness
- Postsecular Cities
- Religion and Political Economy - including the Religious Futures Network
Breaking News....
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.
Professor John Atherton (Senior Research Fellow) gave his first public lecture in front of a packed lecture theatre as the new Visiting Professor in Ethics, Economics and Religion at the University of Chester on the 21st September, 2011. A 1000 word synopsis of the lecture and photos are available on the CFPP link.
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 January 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?
An updated version of William Temple's Christianity and Social Order has been completed by John Reader, John Atherton and Chris Baker for SPCK Press. Entitled Christianity and the New Social Order, it uses Temple's original book as a springboard for an engaged enquiry about a renewed role for Christian social ethics in response to contemporary debates concerning the future of politics, economics and the welfare state. The book was published in September 2011, and has a foreword by Lord Layard, as well as endorsements from Robert Peston, Lord Alton and Frankie Ward, Dean of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, amongst others (see top right panel for further details).
Recent Research papers
- Read Chris Baker's think-piece on new spaces of geographies of religion (PDF, 156KB) given at the Royal Geographical Society on the 1st September, 2010
- Read Re-entering the Third Space? - re-evaluating Ed Soja's spatial theory in and for the postsecualr city (PDF,220KB) delivered by Chris Baker at the Associaiton of American Geographers, Washington, April 2010
- Download John Reader's latest paper on Blurred Encounters and Public Theology entitled The Dark Side of Public Theology: Counting the Cost of Encounter.
- Seeking hope in the indifferent city - faith-based contributions to spaces of production and meaning making in the postsecular city (Word,92KB) paper delivered by Chris Baker at the annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Boston, April 2008
- Glendale Alive - report for the Rural Mission and Ministry Initiative April 2008
- Read Faiths and Finance - a place for faith-based economics, written by John Atherton and others - a joint Islamic/Christian initiative. This report was launched at the Christian-Muslim Forum event at Manchester Town Hall on November 15th 2006.
- Our 2006 report Faith in Action - The dynamic connection between spiritual and religious capital (PDF, 271KB) is now available.
More news, more research, more publications...