Centre for Society, Religion and Belief
The Centre for Society, Religion and Belief responds to major trends in society and culture
Members of the Centre for Society, Religion & Belief
Religion and belief in society is a subject of serious concern, cutting across all sectors of our social world from national and international governments and policy makers, to local communities, social groups, individuals and academics. The Centre provides sociological, cultural and policy analyses of contemporary society and its religions, beliefs and values.
Our research focuses on eight interrelated themes:
Sociology of religion
Classical and contemporary social theories of religion, the empirical analysis of religion in contemporary society, and the religious lives and beliefs of contemporary Muslims, Christians and Buddhists.
Sacred texts in culture and society
Historical, biblical, cultural and sociological approaches to sacred texts, including the Hebrew Bible.
Equality, diversity and discrimination
Issues of equality, diversity and discrimination in relation to religion and belief, gender, ethnicity, social class, disability, sexuality and age, and their intersections, including a focus on the social and policy dimensions of equality legislation.
Youth, education and faith
The place of religion and belief in education (especially higher education), young people and religion, and youth inter-faith activities.
Health and well-being
Sociology of health and illness, representations of disability, and health, social care and art therapy interventions to promote well-being.
Popular culture and spirituality
Cultural representations of apocalyptic and folk beliefs, the construction of spirituality on the internet, the sociology of humour and visual research methods.
Gender, family and violence
Sociology of gender and feminist theory; crime, violence and abuse in intimate relationships; and sociological approaches to same-sex relationships.
Globalisation, migration, tourism and religion
Religion and migration, the globalisation of religion, religion and tourism, and international relations.
