An overview of research projects that CTPI has been involved in. Thinking the Future of Money in the Humanities The Chair of Divinity, Professor Rachel Muers, is the leading investigator of the research project 'Thinking the Future of Money in the Humanities' funded by The Royal Society of Edinburgh. This project works closely with 'The Cultural Life of Money and Finance', a research project held at the University of Leeds. As we move into a "cashless society" and as urgent questions are asked about how money and finance shape how we relate to the environment, what is the future of money - and how can research in the arts and humanities help us to see towards that future? This project gathers researchers who are asking questions about the cultural and societal life of money - in religion, in history, in the arts, in cross-cultural contexts, in relation to larger frameworks of value and meaning - and brings their insights to bear on questions of the future of money. By exploring alternative meanings and representations of money from the past and from across cultures, we will uncover new resources for rethinking and reimagining money at this time of rapid change - focusing on responding to the environmental emergency and the challenges of cashlessness. See: The Cultural Life of Money. Public Theology in the Post-Migrant Society: The Role of Religion in Multi-Faith Refugee Relief (PTPS) Dr Ulrich Schmiedel is involved in the PTPS. This three-year research project funded by Lunds Missionssällskap, explores the role of religion in the practices of A World of Neighbours, a multi-faith network working with people on the move across Europe. By examining under which sociological and theological conditions diversity of religions can become a force for cohesion rather than conflict, PTPS addresses a lack of research on the impact of multi-faith cooperation on refugee relief. The project aims to conceptualise a multi-faith public theology for the post-migrant society that enables and empowers practitioners from the three Abrahamic faiths to work together for refugees in the public square, demonstrating the impact of faith-based initiatives on pluralist societies in Europe. Welcoming the Stranger: Resources for a European Multi-Faith Ethics of Migration (WTS) Dr Ulrich Schmiedel is part of WTS. Co-funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh in Scotland and the Birgit och Sven Håkan Ohlssons Fond in Sweden, WTS brings together scholars and stakeholders concerned with faith-based refugee relief in Europe to develop practice-based resources for a multi-faith ethics of migration, drawing on the theologies of the Abrahamic religions. Connecting theoretical and practical approaches, WTS works with a multi-faith design. Through immersion in the work of the practitioners of A World of Neighbours, a multi-faith-based refugee relief network working with people on the move across Europe, theologically-engaged scholars from the Abrahamic religions investigate the significance of their theological traditions for a multi-faith ethics of migration in action, producing ethical guidelines for faith-based and multi-faith-based networks such as ‘A World of Neighbours’. While explorative and experimental, this co-creation of knowledge aims at a conceptualization of resources applicable to the realities on the ground. Past Projects Click here to find descriptions of projects that CTPI was involved in the past. The Peacebuilding Through Media and Arts Project Explore how various arts can play a part in reducing violent conflict and can create peaceful environments. Relwar: Religion and Ethics in the Making of War and Peace Explore how academics, militaries, humanitarian and peace-building organisations- deal with controversial ethical problems. More Past Projects Events around COP26 In October-November 2021, we hosted a series of events in support of the Glasgow Climate Summit, COP26. These included an installation of banners, a film screening, a scriptural reasoning session, and a public lecture. For full information, please see our COP26 site: New College COP You might also want to read about some of other events we have organised to mark COP26: Scriptural Reasoning – Ecology Film screening – Anote’s Ark Theology in the Public Sphere Theology in the Public Square was a two-year research project aimed at resourcing Scottish churches for public engagement. It was led by Rev. Dr Graham K. Blount and funded by the Binks Trust. The project duration was from the autumn of 2008 until the summer of 2010 and had two main goals: To review and reflect upon the perspectives and strategies of Christian engagement in Scottish public debate since devolution. To identify, in consultation with the churches, policy areas where there is need for theological resourcing and to develop — in partnership with churches and others — theological perspectives on these issues. The CTPI hosted several conferences as part of this project, including: The 'Building Home, Building Hope Conference' addressed the theology of the home. CTPI put it on in partnership with Scottish Churches Housing Action, the Salvation Army and Bethany Christian Trust. Building Home, Building Hope Conference The Media and Theology Project The project aimed to help extend theological media literacy and thus further contribute to this swiftly expanding field of study. This will help researchers, producers and consumers of the media to go beyond merely an analysis of media messages to a critical and creative reading of the context, construction, content and reception of a range of media. The early years With seed funding from the Jerusalem Trust, 'The Media and Theological Education Project' in the early 1990s enabled Professor Duncan Forrester to set up the project. The first research fellow was Dr Chris Arthur (1930), followed by Dr Derek Weber, who produced the book 'Discerning Images' (1991). In the late 1980s and early 90s, a number of consultations with theological colleges and centres around the UK were organised. In its first five years, the project’s central objective was to help develop the training of ministers so that they could interact imaginatively with their rapidly evolving communicative environment. A Master's degree in Ethics specialising in media was devised and set up in 1991. The Media and Theology Project In 1993, Jolyon Mitchell took over and the project was renamed 'The Media and Theology Project'. Twelve small conferences, including a 'Spring Media Festival', were organised over his first five years. Experienced broadcasters, academics and postgraduates took part in these public lectures, consultations and open meetings. In the second five years, the project concentrated on teaching, postgraduate research, and developing networks. Over 60 postgraduates from all over the world have been awarded an MTh in the Theology and Ethics of Communication. Over 100 students have participated in the weekly core seminar for postgraduates concerned with issues connected with communication and religion/theology/ ethics. In 1999, the project hosted the third international conference on 'Media, Religion and Culture'. As the project’s work continued to expand alongside the postgraduate degrees and research work, a number of new publications were done, and international networking increased. Religion in the Shaping of European Cultural Identity (RISECI) The Centre for Theology and Public Issues joined forces with Blanquerna University (Barcelona), the Sigtuna Institute (Sweden) and the Slovene Museum of Christianity (Slovenia) to take part in a research project on ‘Religion in the Shaping of European Cultural Identity’ (RISECI). Joint-funded by the European Union, the RISECI project explored how religion makes a positive contribution to the construction of European identity. It was led by Professor Miriam Diez Bosch of the Blanquerna Observatory of Communication, Culture and Religion at the Universitat Ramon Llull in Barcelona. From 2013 to 2015, the various partners in the RISECI project organised workshops, exhibitions and academic events exploring the themes of identity, religion and culture in Europe. In October 2013, a workshop in Edinburgh, tied with the 'Peacebuilding Through Media Arts' project, occurred. This article was published on 2024-03-19
