Theos (think tank)

Theos
Formation2006; 19 years ago (2006)
TypeThink tank
Legal statusCharity
Location
  • Westminster, London, UK
Director
Chine McDonald
Staff15
Websitewww.theosthinktank.co.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Theos (from the Greek: Θεός, theós, "God") is a Christian religion and society think tank researching the relationship between religion, politics and society in the contemporary world. Theos aims to impact opinion around issues of faith and belief in society through research, publications, media engagement, podcasts, animated videos, and events such as debates, seminars and lectures. Theos is headquartered in the United Kingdom in Westminster, London.

Theos maintains an ecumenical position, committed to the traditional creeds of the Christian faith. It also works with non-Christian and non-religious individuals and organisations.

History

Early years: 2006–2011

Theos was launched in November 2006 with the support of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. Its first director was Paul Woolley.

Theos believes that religion is a significant force in public life and should have an active role in public debate. The think tank argues that Christianity has played a seminal role in the formation of British, and Western, politics and ideas.[1] Theos believes faith is "not just important for human flourishing and the renewal of society, but that society can only truly flourish if faith is given the space to do so".[2]

Opposing the idea that politicians "don’t do God",[3] as stated by Alastair Campbell in 2003, Theos' first research report was titled '"Doing God": A Future for Faith in the Public Space' and was published on 1 November 2006. Rowan Williams and Cormac Murphy O’Connor wrote the foreword to the report, stating that Theos encourages the "reassessment ... of the importance of faith to individuals and society ... by increasing public understanding of faith and its contribution to public life".[4]

In its first years, the think tank produced reports on faith in areas of public life including sports,[5] multiculturalism,[6] Christmas,[7] and politics.[8] Its "Rescuing Darwin" project, which coincided with the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, explored the extent and nature of evolutionary and non-evolutionary beliefs in the UK and their perceived relationship with theism and atheism.[9] The project included an essay on Darwinism and theism in modern Britain, an extended interview with philosopher Mary Midgley, a "spiritual biography" of Charles Darwin, and two independent research studies conducted by polling company Savanta (then ComRes) and ethnographic social research agency ESRO.[10][11][12][13] As part of the project, Theos commissioned the play "Mr Darwin's Tree" from the Christian playwright Murray Watts, to explore "Darwin's questions about his science, himself, God and suffering".[14][15]

2011–2021

In 2011, Elizabeth Oldfield became the director of Theos, succeeding Paul Woolley. Under her leadership, Theos sought to promote informed and depolarised conversations about faith in society, with a focus on the belief that humans thrive in relationships of mutual dependence. Theos also expanded its network by collaborating with individuals from various fields, including academics, musicians, actors, and authors.[citation needed]

The think tank launched two ongoing podcasts, The Sacred and Reading Our Times, which serve as platforms for discussing faith and current issues.

During this period, Theos released reports on social issues, and on the topics of community,[16][17] work,[18] and social innovation.[19] The research report "Religious London: Faith in a Global City", published in 2020, discussed the role of religion in public life.[20][21][22]

2022 onwards

Chine McDonald, a writer, broadcaster and public theologian, became the director of Theos in January 2022, succeeding Elizabeth Oldfield. Prior to this role, she worked as a journalist and held communications and fundraising roles in various organisations, including Christian Aid. McDonald is the author of the book God Is Not a White Man and regularly appears as a commentator on religion and ethics programmes, including as a presenter of BBC Radio 4's "Thought for the Day".[23][24][25]

Since 2022, Theos has published works including "The Nones: Who are they and what do they believe?"[26] and "A Torn Safety Net: How the Cost of Living Crisis Threatens Its Own Last Line of Defence",[27] produced in partnership with the Church Urban Fund, with a joint foreword by former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Media

Theos has been featured in mainstream media outlets, including articles for publications UnHerd,[28] The Guardian,[29] The Economist, the Financial Times,[30] Prospect,[31] Yorkshire Post, Church Times,[32] Christianity Today,[33] and Comment Magazine.[34] Senior Fellow Nick Spencer hosted a BBC Radio 4 series entitled The Secret History of Science and Religion.[35] Additionally, Theos' work has been extensively quoted in media outlets, including The Washington Post, The New Statesman,[36] The Telegraph,[37] The Times,[38] The Spectator,[39] BBC,[40] BBC 4, BBC 5, and multiple local BBC stations.

Nick Spencer's book, Magisteria: The Entangled Histories of Science & Religion, published in 2023, has received acclaim in New Scientist, Prospect, the Financial Times and the Times Literary Supplement.[41]

The think tank has collaborated with animation director Emily Downe on several short animations on the topics of science and religion and on exploring the concept of 'worldviews', as well as for the think tank's podcast The Sacred.[42][43][44]

Criticism

British philosopher and author A.C. Grayling has been a critic of the organisation. In his book The God Argument: The Case Against Religion and for Humanism, published in 2013, Grayling devoted a chapter to criticising Theos and its research, arguing that the organisation was conservative and criticising it for what he saw as a lack of transparency in its funding, and for its association with conservative Christian organisations.[45] Overall, Grayling's criticism of Theos was part of his wider argument for the separation of religion and state and the promotion of secular humanism as an alternative worldview.

Podcasts

The Sacred

Live recording of The Sacred featuring Lydia Fox (left) and Richard Ayoade (centre), September 2019

The Sacred is a podcast produced by Theos and hosted by Elizabeth Oldfield, the former director of the think tank. The podcast explores the things people hold sacred in the broadest sense, including guests' deep principles or values to live by.[46]

The podcast has been releasing episodes since late 2017 and has featured a range of guests from various backgrounds, including academics, journalists, actors, musicians, and politicians. Notable guests have included Justin Welby, Lord Charles Moore, Ash Sarkar, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Dame Prue Leith, Sally Phillips, Richard Ayoade, Nick Cave, and Rainn Wilson.[47]

On 11 September 2019, Theos held a live podcast recording of The Sacred at Curzon Bloomsbury in London, featuring an interview with comedian Richard Ayoade and actress Lydia Fox. After a break during the COVID-19 pandemic, the podcast resumed its annual live podcast recordings in of April 2023 with an interview featuring journalist Oliver Burkeman.[48]

Reading Our Times

Reading Our Times is a podcast produced by Theos and hosted by Nick Spencer. The podcast aims to explore the books and ideas that are shaping contemporary society and thinking.The guests on the podcast are authors from across the Anglosphere, who discuss a range of issues with the host, including meritocracy, justice, populism, human rights, the brain, liberalism, and religion.

Guests who have appeared on the podcast include Thomas Piketty, Marilynne Robinson, Lord Jonathan Sumption, Michael Sandel, Margaret Macmillan, Charles Taylor, Minouche Shafik, Martin Rees, Rowan Williams, Iain McGilchrist, Maryanne Wolf, Alan Rusbridger, and Stefan Dercon.[49]

Annual lectures

Sally Phillips standing at a pulpit with the Theos logo giving a lecture
Sally Phillips delivering the 2019 Theos Annual lecture at King's Place, London

The think tank has held annual lectures in venues around London with British public figures since its third year of existence.

Speaker Topic Date and venue
Dr Kathryn Mannix Dying for beginners: how understanding death can help us to live better 01/11/2023 at 1 Wimpole Street
Tom Holland Humanism: a Christian heresy 23/11/2022 at Conway Hall
Dr Willie Jennings Reimagining Western Education in a Time of Racial Crisis 10/11/2021 online
Prof Michael Sandel The Tyranny of Merit 08/09/2020 online
Sally Phillips Human Dignity, Different Lives & the Illusions of Choice 29/11/2019 at King’s Place
Michael Gove When will there be a harvest for the world? 22/11/2018 at Institute of Directors
Tim Farron What Kind of Liberal Society Do We Want? 28/11/2017 at The Law Society
Prof Terry Eagleton The Death of God and the War on Terror 05/10/2016 at One Birdcage Walk
Baroness Onora O’Neill Freedom of religion and freedom of expression 19/10/2015 at the Inner Temple
Prof Will Hutton How Good We Could Be: Morality, Economics and the Future of Britain 24/11/2014 at The Stationers Hall
Rt Revd. Rt Hon Prof Rowan Williams The Person and the Individual: Human Dignity, Human Relationships and Human Limits 01/10/2012 at Methodist Central Hall
General Lord Richard Dannatt The Battle for Hearts and Minds: Morality and Warfare Today 08/11/2011 at One Birdcage Walk
Baron Ian Blair Religion and Public Order 16/11/2010 at One Birdcage Walk
Baron Jonathan Sacks Religion in Twenty–first century Britain 04/11/2009 at Lewis Media Centre
Mark Thompson Faith, Morality and Media 14/10/2008 at Lewis Media Centre

Publications

Books

Books published by Theos staff members
Author Year Title Link
Nicholas Spencer 2023 Magisteria: The Entangled Histories of Science and Religion [41]
Madeleine Pennington 2021 Quakers, Christ and the Enlightenment [50]
Chine McDonald 2021 God Is Not a White Man: And Other Revelations [23]
Simon Perfect 2021 Freedom of Speech in Universities: Islam, Charities and Counter–terrorism [51]
Nathan Mladin 2021 “The question of surveillance capitalism” in The Robot Will See You Now: Artificial Intelligence and the Christian Faith, eds. John Wyatt and Stephen N. Williams [52]
Ben Ryan 2019 How the West was Lost: The Decline of a Myth and the Search for New Stories [53]
Madeleine Pennington 2019 The Christian Quaker: George Keith and the Keithian Controversy [54]
Ben Ryan 2018 Fortress Britain? Ethical approaches to immigration policy for a post-Brexit Britain [55]
Theos Team 2017 The Mighty and the Almighty: How Political Leaders Do God, ed. Nick Spencer [56]
Nick Spencer 2017 The Political Samaritan: How Power Hijacked a Parable [57]
Nick Spencer 2016 The Evolution of the West: How Christianity Shaped Our Values [1]
Nick Spencer 2014 Atheists: The Origin of the Species [58]
Nick Spencer 2009 Darwin and God [13]

Funding

Theos, though editorially independent, is a project of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which provides some core funding. The think tank does not receive any funding from the government, corporations or religious denominations, except when conducting consultancy research for them. Theos relies on regular donations from individuals, and its published research is often funded by charitable trusts, such as the William Leech Research Fellowships, the Halley Stewart Trust, Laing Family Trusts and Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. The Annual Lecture of the think tank is currently sponsored by CCLA, an investment fund for charities, churches and the public sector, which is owned by its clients.[59]

References

  1. ^ a b Spencer, Nick (2016). The evolution of the West : how Christianity has shaped our values. London. ISBN 978-0-281-07520-1. OCLC 959272654.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ "About Theos - The Public Theology Think Tank | London | UK". 10 December 2006. Archived from the original on 10 December 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Campbell interrupted Blair as he spoke of his faith: 'We don't do God'". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  4. ^ ""Doing God": A Future for Faith in the Public Square". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  5. ^ Bickley, Paul (1 January 2012). "Give us our Ball Back: Reclaiming Sport for the Common Good" (PDF). Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  6. ^ Chaplin, Jonathan (8 January 2012). "Multiculturalism: a Christian Retrieval" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  7. ^ "The Politics of Christmas". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Coming off the Bench". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Rescuing Darwin". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Discussing Darwin". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Faith and Darwin". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Doubting Darwin". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  13. ^ a b Spencer, Nick (2009). Darwin and God. London: SPCK. ISBN 978-0-281-06082-5. OCLC 316823490.
  14. ^ "Mr Darwin's Tree premiere". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Mr. Darwin's Tree Home Page". tour. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Good Neighbours: How Churches Help Communities Flourish". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  17. ^ "The Church and Social Cohesion: Connecting Communities and Serving People". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Just Work: Humanising the Labour Market in a Changing World'". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Doing Good Better: The Case for Faith–based Social Innovation". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Religious London". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  21. ^ Heath, Allister (5 April 2023). "This can be the beginning of the end of Sadiq Khan's nightmarish misrule". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  22. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (23 June 2020). "London more religious than rest of Britain, report finds". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  23. ^ a b McDonald, Chine (2021). God is not a white man (and other revelations). London. ISBN 978-1-5293-4907-8. OCLC 1242787965.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  24. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Thought for the Day, Chine McDonald". BBC. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  25. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Thought for the Day, Chine McDonald - 10/08/2021". BBC. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  26. ^ "The Nones: Who are they and what do they believe?". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  27. ^ "A Torn Safety Net: How the cost of living crisis threatens its own last line of defence". Theos Think Tank. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  28. ^ "King Charles understands the Christian limits of his power". UnHerd. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  29. ^ Ryan, Ben (25 January 2016). "The in campaign fixates on business – what about Europe's moral purpose?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  30. ^ "Journey to the Edge of Reason by Stephen Budiansky — ruthless logic". Financial Times. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  31. ^ "God, creator of the universe (they/them)". dlv.prospect.gcpp.io. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  32. ^ "Religious 'nones' are not necessarily atheists, Theos report suggests". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  33. ^ White-Cummings, Interview by Chandra. "Chine McDonald on the UK's 'Beautifully Messy' Diverse Churches". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  34. ^ "How Change Happens". Comment Magazine. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  35. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - The Secret History of Science and Religion, 1. The Nature of the Beast". BBC. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  36. ^ Owolade, Tomiwa (30 November 2022). "Immigration isn't undermining British religiousness – it's the only thing sustaining it". New Statesman. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  37. ^ "Archbishop of Canterbury defends record in office". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  38. ^ McLaughlin, Mark. "Opposing same-sex marriage deters voters and poses questions for Kate Forbes". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  39. ^ Spencer, Nick (14 May 2020). "The delicate balance between God and Caesar in modern Britain". The Spectator. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  40. ^ "Eight arguments about whether the UK is a Christian country". BBC News. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  41. ^ a b Spencer, Nicholas (2023). Magisteria : the entangled histories of science & religion / Nicholas Spencer. London: Oneworld Publications. ISBN 978-0-86154-461-5. OCLC 1314258980.
  42. ^ Downe, Emily (11 October 2022), Worlds Apart, retrieved 26 April 2023
  43. ^ Downe, Emily (13 May 2021), Nobody Stands Nowhere, retrieved 26 April 2023
  44. ^ Downe, Emily (30 March 2021), My Dream, My Taste, retrieved 26 April 2023
  45. ^ Grayling, A. C. (2013). The God argument : the case against religion and for humanism. New York: Bloomsbury. pp. 245–284. ISBN 978-1-62040-190-3. OCLC 811597565.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  46. ^ Samadder, Rhik (12 August 2018). "Think debate has turned irredeemably toxic? I have just the podcasts for you". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  47. ^ Theos Think Tank. "The Sacred". The Sacred. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  48. ^ Sacred Live: Oliver Burkeman on living a meaningful life in the present moment, retrieved 26 April 2023
  49. ^ Theos Think Tank. "Reading Our Times". Reading Our Times. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  50. ^ Pennington, Madeleine (2021). Quakers, Christ, and the Enlightenment. Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-191607-6. OCLC 1224020029.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  51. ^ Scott-Baumann, Alison (2021). Freedom of speech in universities Islam, charities and counter-terrorism. Simon Perfect. Abingdon, Oxon. ISBN 978-1-000-35961-9. OCLC 1230230809.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  52. ^ Wyatt, John (2021). The Robot Will See You Now Artificial Intelligence and the Christian Faith. Stephen N. Williams. LONDON: SPCK. ISBN 978-0-281-08436-4. OCLC 1255228523.
  53. ^ Ryan, Ben (2019). How the West was lost : the decline of a myth and the search for new stories. London. ISBN 978-1-78738-193-3. OCLC 1089012447.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  54. ^ Ward, Madeleine (2019). The Christian Quaker : George Keith and the Keithian controversy. Leiden. ISBN 978-90-04-39689-0. OCLC 1096236373.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  55. ^ Fortress Britain? : ethical approaches to immigration policy for a post-Brexit Britain. Ben Ryan. London. 2018. ISBN 978-1-78450-620-9. OCLC 1032777816.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  56. ^ The mighty and the Almighty : how political leaders do God. Nick Spencer. London. 2017. ISBN 978-1-78590-191-1. OCLC 975132103.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  57. ^ Spencer, Nick (2017). The political Samaritan : how power hijacked a parable. London, UK. ISBN 978-1-4729-4221-0. OCLC 968772853.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  58. ^ Spencer, Nick (2014). Atheists : the origin of the species. London. ISBN 978-1-4729-0296-2. OCLC 872712176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  59. ^ "Theos Think Tank - Understanding faith. Enriching society". Theos Think Tank - Understanding faith. Enriching society. Retrieved 21 April 2023.