The Christmas story has for centuries motivated the long history of the church’s commitment to helping society’s poor and downcast. Indeed, it was a cluster of Christian and Jewish charities which led the first serious concerted action against homelessness in the 1960s and 1970s.
Category: Civic life
Explainer: why some churches teach that women are ‘separate but equal’
Complementarianism is the idea held in some faiths that men and women play different, complementary roles in life, society and – particularly – religious practice. Rather than regarding women as essentially inferior or incapable of leading, women are regarded as “equal”. This view is a way of interpreting patriarchal religious doctrines and reconciling their authority … Continue reading “Explainer: why some churches teach that women are ‘separate but equal’”
A ‘British Values’ oath has worrying echoes. There are much better ways to boost integration
For Catholics, the idea of an “oath for all holders of public office”, which the communities minister Sajid Javid proposed yesterday, has unpleasant connotations. For most of the last 500 years, Catholics were forced onto the margins of society by such measures as the oath of royal supremacy and the Test Act. Still, we … Continue reading “A ‘British Values’ oath has worrying echoes. There are much better ways to boost integration”
Professor Francis Davis discusses the impact of immigration on UK Churches on BBC Radio 4
Professor Francis Davis discussed the impact of immigration on UK Churches on the BBC Radio 4 show Beyond Belief on December 5, 2016. The topic of the show was introduced on BBC Radio 4’s website with the following words: “Churchgoing in the UK is in steep decline, but between 2005 and 2012 attendance rose by … Continue reading “Professor Francis Davis discusses the impact of immigration on UK Churches on BBC Radio 4”
Birmingham University lights up red for the persecuted
Lord Alton renewed his leadership of the national community working to mitigate abuses on the grounds of freedom and belief this week. It was wonderful to see his old friends Baroness Patricia Scotland (Commonwealth Secretary General), and Archbishop Justin Welby on board to support the initiative and significant swathes of the English North West rise … Continue reading “Birmingham University lights up red for the persecuted”
Insights from the Megachurches and Social Engagement Conference in London
The conference was held at the Royal Geographical Society in London and welcomed delegates from a variety of academic institutions and third sector organisations with an interest in research on faith and society. The day began with introductory address from Dr Andrew Davies, principal investigator on the project, followed by a keynote presentation from Professor … Continue reading “Insights from the Megachurches and Social Engagement Conference in London”
The silent devolution revolution
Professor Francis Davis argues changes within the NHS may be the most radical decentralisation project under way in England – but little attention has been paid to them.
What good are London’s megachurches?
The Church of England’s most recent annual analysis of their core datasets, ‘Statistics for Mission’, published last week, makes for disappointing reading, but won’t surprise anyone who follows such measures, evidencing nationally as they do a shrinking and aging congregation, with the ‘most key measures of attendance’ falling by ‘between 10% and 15% over the … Continue reading “What good are London’s megachurches?”
Expect some religion-friendly reforms from Theresa May and her gifted advisers
Long before Theresa May reached Number 10, many had noticed her affinity for religious communities. Throughout the Coalition years she was an assiduous visitor of the parishes in her own constituency, perhaps inspired by her devout Anglo-Catholic father who – according to Giles Fraser – named her after St Teresa of Avila. Later, as a … Continue reading “Expect some religion-friendly reforms from Theresa May and her gifted advisers”
Stewart highlights the strengths of polymaths in politics
So rare a species are polymaths as politicians these days that one of the striking features of almost any article about Rory Stewart makes a nod to his T.E. Lawrence-like CV, the chances that he might have leapt from the pages of a John Buchan novel, or even that he ‘must be from another age’. … Continue reading “Stewart highlights the strengths of polymaths in politics”