The Importance of Understanding the Sociology of Religion

http://hds.harvard.edu/news/2016/01/20/importance-understanding-sociology-religion#

The Importance of Understanding the Sociology of Religion

Warren Goldstein is a sociologist of religion teaching at HDS. While his research aims to develop a critical sociology of religion as a "new paradigm" in the sociology of religion, he is more broadly interested in the development of a critical paradigm in the study of religion as a whole.

A new Settlement : religion and Belief in Schools

http://faithdebates.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/A-New-Settlement-for-Religion-and-Belief-in-schools.pdf

A new Settlement : religion and Belief in Schools

by Charles Clarke and Linda Woodhead 

Living with Difference: Community, Diversity and the Common Good

http://www.corab.org.uk/

Living with Difference: Community, Diversity and the Common Good

The report of the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life, convened by the Woolf Institute and chaired by Baroness Butler-Sloss.
It is titled "Living with Difference: Community, Diversity and the Common Good".

RE for REal report and Recommendations

http://www.gold.ac.uk/faithsunit/reforreal/

In a context of deep religious illiteracy in the UK, RE for REal explores the role of schools in equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to engage effectively with religion and belief diversity, in schools, in their communities, in future workplaces and in wider social contexts.

The project analyses the views of pupils, parents and teachers in secondary education and of employers, on what school leavers need to know about religion and belief in relation to the current religion and belief landscape, as evidenced in research and current educational policy.

It builds on the Religious Education Council’s A Review of Religious Education in England (2013) by providing a new evidence-base to support and facilitate continuing national discussions. By engaging protagonists in the field in a cycle of reflective analysis, it will further stimulate and facilitate wider debate around the future role and shape of RE in schools.

Below, you will find supporting documents to accompany our recent study:

Full report (PDF download)

Executive summary (PDF download)

Recommendations (PDF download)

RE for REal brings together views on what children need to know and understand about religion with research evidence on the real religious landscape and explores the gaps between the two. It is unique in that it will bring together key groups of influence to create a forum in which to discuss how to align these two in future policy and planning for schools.

IFN Interfaith Bulletin Oct-Nov 2015

http://www.interfaith.org.uk/publications/ifn-e-bulletin/146-ifn-e-bulletin-october-november-2015/file

IFN Interfaith Bulletin Oct-Nov 2015

Event Report: Atheism research at the 2015 IAPR World Congress

http://blog.nsrn.net/2015/10/19/event-report-atheism-research-at-the-2015-iapr-world-congress/

← Event Report: American Psychological Association Annual Conference

Event Report: Atheism research at the 2015 IAPR World Congress

Posted on October 19, 2015 by katieaston

In this post, Thomas Coleman discusses the conference the International Association for the Psychology of Religion (IAPR) 2015 World Congress (17th-20th August 2015). Coleman takes us on a tour of the conference, through panels of interest to him on topics of atheism, disbelief and nonreligious mystical, or transcendent, experience.

Review of equality and human rights law relating to religion or belief

Review of equality and human rights law relating to religion or belief

NEW PUBLICATION

Peter Edge and Lucy Vickers, Review of equality and human rights law relating to religion or belief (EHRC Research Report no. 97, 2015)

 

This EHRC report draws on a detailed analysis of primary and secondary sources of British law, wider research and policy literature, and four workshops of experts to explore the legal framework on religion or belief. It covers definitional issues, the legal protection for religion or belief, the balancing of rights, a duty of reasonable accommodation and the public sector equality duty. Key findings included that:

 

·        The current domestic law in this area is comparatively recent and addresses complex issues in a context where there is considerable difference of opinion as to how the law should be framed and applied. Given this, the law is generally clear and consistent.

·        The review indicates the definition of belief, particularly in equality legislation, merits further assessment. The broad definition currently being applied by the courts is unclear, which results in apparent inconsistencies between judgments, particularly at Employment Tribunal level.

·        The impact on domestic law of some specific issues which have been tested at European level remains unclear.

·        The primary focus of the case law to date has been on the relationship of the religious employee and their employer. However, the position of the religious employer and the religious service provider remains relatively unexplored.

·        The role of the public sector equality duty in integrating religion or belief equality into the day to day practice of public sector organisations remains largely untested.

·        The extent to which a duty to accommodate religion or belief (as practised in Canada or the USA) might be beneficial to employees and employers remains uncertain and different views are held about its perceived advantages and disadvantages.

 

The report is available at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publication/research-report-97-review-equality-and-human-rights-law-relating-religion-or-belief

-- 
Namo Amida Bu

Acharya Modgala Louise Duguid

Invented Religions

http://www.religiousstudiesproject.com/podcast/podcast-carole-cusack-on-invented-religions/

Invented Religions

What is an “Invented Religion”? Why should scholars take these religions seriously? What makes these “inventions” different from the revelations in other religions? What happens when an author does not want their story to become a religious text?

'Buddhism New' Saddhā,Buddhist Confidence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cpcHqEc38s

'Buddhism New' Saddhā,Buddhist Confidence

http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=9,12419,0,0,1,0#.VcRnKSZViko

Monks, critical thinking and how Theravada Buddhism would benefit the world

by Kooi F. Lim, The Buddhist Channel, Aug 6, 2015

Bangkok, Thailand -- The Buddhist Channel catches up with the manager of the International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU), Dr. Dion Peoples. The following are his views on saddha (faith, or as he prefers - confidence) vs critical thinking, Asian monks' knowledge in general of the Buddha Dhamma and how Theravada Buddhism would benefit the world.

REC August 2015 Bulletin

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=a742773f8f89e11e47d388c29&id=3d5b8364a6&e=a0f1d3deed

REC August 2015 Bulletin

The Role of Faith in British Schools/Education

The Role of Faith in British Schools/Education

http://se-faithforum.net/national-events/conference-2015

The Role of Faith in British Schools/Education

http://se-faithforum.net/national-events/conference-2015

The Role of Faith in British Schools/Education

South East England Faiths Forum, in conjunction with the National Association of SACREs and the University of Winchester, is holding a day conference on Thursday 3 September on ‘The Role of Faith in British Schools/Education’.
The event will be held from 10am to 4pm at the Stripe Building, University of Winchester SO22 4NR. The keynote speaker will be Alan Brine, former RE lead at OFSTED and the day will end with the SEEFF AGM at 4pm. There is a charge to attend, which includes a vegetarian lunch.

For further information, contact elizabeth.jenkerson@btopenworld.com or visit http://se-faithforum.net/national-events/conference-2015
.

IFN -E-Bulletin May-June 2015

http://www.interfaith.org.uk/publications/ifn-e-bulletin/138-ifn-e-bulletin-may-june-2015/file

IFN -E-Bulletin May-June 2015

The e-bulletin can be read by scrolling through it. If you prefer to go directly to a particular section, click the relevant blue underlined title in the ‘Sections’ list immediately below. To go directly to particular individual items, click on the relevant blue underlined ‘Read more’ links in the list of these in the ‘Items’ list.

Vesak Festivals in Sri Lanka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eunH6Dh2mM

Vesak Festivals in Sri Lanka

Vesak is considered as both a religious and cultural festival in Sri Lanka. It is celebrated on the day of the full moon in May.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRDi7JpB8Pw&list=PL1C7C1A7B5BE4CAD0

The Conscious Universe - B. Alan Wallace

 

Published on May 20, 2012

Recorded at Unity Church, Santa Barbara, CA , Jan. 16, 2008
The Conscious Universe: Where Buddhism and Physics Converge

Physicists have long assumed that the universe is fundamentally composed of matter and energy and that life and consciousness are accidental byproducts of configurations of matter. But a growing number of distinguished physicists are now suggesting that consciousness may play a much more fundamental role in nature than scientists previously believed. In this lecture Alan Wallace will review some of the most provocative theories presented by such leading physicists as John Wheeler, Stephen Hawking, and Andre Linde that challenge many of the materialist assumptions based on outdated 19th-century physics.

http://www.alanwallace.org

Please visit http://www.sbinstitute.com/ for more information.

 

BBC Radio Programs on issues involving Buddhism

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b038c0f6

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b052gz7m

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01457qc

BBC Radio Programs on issues involving Buddhism

Buddhism and Violence

Buddhism, Therapy, Violence, Rationality

Buddhism and Islam

Andrew Holecek - The Now and Future of Buddhism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUsNOKzEJ6E

Andrew Holecek - The Now and Future of Buddhism 

 Published on Feb 28, 2015

Andrew Holecek discusses 12 important considerations for the future of Buddhism.

From the Fourth Turning Media Program: http://fourthturningbuddhism.com/prog...

IFN (Interfaith Network) Jan-Feb 2015 E-Bulletin

http://www.interfaith.org.uk/publications/ifn-e-bulletin

IFN Jan-Feb 2015 E-Bulletin

CONTENTS

UK/National updates
• UK inter faith response to events in France and Germany
• EHRC to produce new legal guidance on freedom of expression
• Reconciliation and tolerance a theme in speeches from HM The Queen and HRH the Prince of Wales
• Charity Commission consults on new guidance for trustees
• Inter Faith Network meetings
• MPs express support for high quality Religious Education

International updates
• Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions

Projects
• Visit My Mosque – Sunday 1 February
• New Hindu temple inter faith reach out
• Sharing of expertise – pioneering new approaches
• Woolf Institute ‘Community Initiative and Austerity’ Facebook Group
• Kendal Peace Garden
• Equally Ours
• Big Lunch Extras
• Unity in motion

Training and resources
• Tackling domestic violence training
• Cambridge Inter-faith Programme Summer School
• Prevent training workshops
• Building Networks across Difference and Inter Faith and Networking
• Edinburgh Inter Faith Association video and publication
• Celebrating Faith video
• Interfaith Explorers website

Jobs, Internships and Volunteering
• 3FF – Director
• Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme – Research Associate

Funding opportunities
• Near Neighbours programme
• Funding Central website
• Comic Relief Stronger Communities grants
• Big Lottery Fund

Calls for information, Competitions and Tenders
• Strengthening Faith Institutions programme
• Inter Faith Week questionnaire – deadline extended
• Equality Act - 5 Years On: Call for Papers 

Special Weeks/Days
• World Interfaith Harmony Week
• Fairtrade Fortnight
• Islam Awareness Week

Diary Dates
• Information on some of the inter faith events taking place around the UK
 Bulletin:
http://www.interfaith.org.uk/publications/ifn-e-bulletin

LSE: Innovation, Violence and Paralysis: How do Minority Religions Cope with Uncertainty?

Inform Winter Seminar

Innovation, Violence and Paralysis: How do Minority Religions Cope with Uncertainty?

Date - Saturday, 7 February 2015; 9.30am – 5.00pm
Location – New Academic Building, London School of Economics

Registration is now open and can be done using a credit/debit card through PayPal or by posting a booking form and a cheque payable to 'Inform' to Inform, Houghton St., London WC2A 2AE. Tickets (including buffet lunch, coffee and tea) paid by 19 January 2015 are £38 each (£18 students/unwaged). Tickets booked after 19 January 2015 will cost £48 each (£28 students/unwaged). 

What happens when groups lose control of their own destiny? Whether it leads to violence, as in the case of Aum Shinrikyo’s response to a potential police investigation in 1995, or to non-violent innovations, as found in minority religions following the death of their founders or leaders, uncertainty and insecurity can lead to great change in the mission and even teachings of religious groups. What does it take to bring back certainty? This seminar will explore how minority religions and their members work with notions of uncertainty and insecurity.

9.30 - 10.00         REGISTRATION

10.00 - 10.05       Eileen Barker (Founder and Honorary Research Fellow, Inform) Welcome and Housekeeping

10.05 - 10.15       Kim Knott (Professor of Religious and Secular Studies in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion at Lancaster University) Introduction

10.15 - 10.45       Graham Macklin

10.45 – 11.15      Titus Hjelm (Lecturer, UCL) Paradoxes of Religious Legitimacy and Authenticity in an Age of Expediency

11.15 – 11.40      TEA/COFFEE

11.40 – 12.10      Suzanne Newcombe (Research Officer at Inform) Certain Beliefs and Uncertain Evidence: The Case of Shugden

12.10 – 12.40      TBC

12.40 - 13.10       Dawn Marie Gibson (Lecturer, Royal Holloway, University of London) Uncertain times in the Nation of Islam’s Past and Present

13.10 - 14.10       LUNCH

14.10 - 14.40       George Sieg (Adjunct Professor, University of New Mexico)

14.40 - 15.10       Anthony Fiscella (Doctoral Student, Lund University) Moving Mountains: From Colonial Orders to Universal Change

15.10 - 15.40       TEA/COFFEE

15.40 – 16.10      David Robertson Conspiracy Theories as Response to Uncertainty in Minority Religions

16.10 – 16.50      GENERAL PANEL DISCUSSION