through the lens of faith - university of birmingham · through the lens of faith: complexities,...
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Through the lens of faith: complexities, challenges & opportunities
Dr Chris Allen School of Social Policy
Co-Lead, Religion & Culture Workstream
@DrChrisAllen #IRiSlaunch
@DrChrisAllen #IRiSlaunch
Overall church attendance remains in decline but is slowing Today, a third of all churches are today reporting growth
@DrChrisAllen #IRiSlaunch
“religious identity is a feature of national and international affairs today in a way that was unexpected, indeed unimaginable, just twenty years ago”
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-Identity...important feature of our everyday experience as individuals, families, friends, communities; at home, in the workplace, school and elsewhere
- Shapes who WE are
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Research shows that religion (belief &
practice) continues to be important to
minority communities…more
central to their everyday experience
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Connecting Histories
- Birmingham used to be the ‘city of a thousand trades’ now it’s the ‘city of religions’ - More than 600 places of worship - Unique opportunity
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- Religion is rapidly changing, increasingly complex, more fragmented & diverse
- Established religions - Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism & Sikhism – are co-existing with those less established including Buddhism, Rastafarian, Bahá'í, Jainism, Confucian, Latter Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses...no faith also
- Religion is multi-layered, overlapping with ethnicity, language, culture, migration status, etc
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Inclusion
Discrimination
Cohesion Social values
Conflict
Belonging
Identity
Security
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Provide new opportunities for research that build on existing expertise
Martin Stringer Religious diversity in the city
Arshad Isakjee Young Muslim identity in Birmingham
Chris Allen Islamophobia, discrimination & faith policy
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To undertake research ‘with’ rather than ‘about’ religious communities – as partners &
collaborators To improve understanding & knowledge about religion &
religious communities for the city and beyond
To support & inform policy & practice here and elsewhere
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@DrChrisAllen
Chris Allen
www.chris-allen.co.uk
07940 537691
about.me/drchrisallen