Faith in Public Life: Force for Good or Obstacle to Progress?

Religious belief has historically been a cornerstone of societal values, providing a moral compass and a sense of community for individuals. It has inspired acts of compassion, altruism, and social justice, contributing to the betterment of communities and the world at large. Many argue that faith-based organizations and initiatives have played a pivotal role in addressing social issues, from poverty alleviation to disaster relief, demonstrating the positive influence of faith in public life.

However, others would suggest that the intertwining of faith and public life can be harmful to building inclusive communities, particularly when religious beliefs are considered to clash with secular governance and human rights. Instances of discrimination, intolerance, and resistance to scientific advancements have raised concerns about the potential negative impact of faith on public policy and societal norms. Moreover, the influence of specific religious doctrines on legislation and public discourse has sparked contentious debates about individual freedoms and equality. So, is religion an obstacle or a stepping stone to social advancement?

The evening will feature a presentation by Professor Andrew Davies with panel discussion including Lunar Society Trustee and Fellow Member - Amrick Singh Ubhi FTLS(who heads up Civic Engagement & Partnerships on behalf of the Nishkam Group of Organisations). Chaired by Professor Jon Green FTLS (Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor School of Education) the event will bring together diverse perspectives, inviting religious leaders, scholars, policymakers, and activists to reflect together upon the multifaceted relationship between faith and public life.

The dialogue will explore the potential for faith to be a catalyst for positive change in society, addressing the more negative perceptions some people have of religion and considering how some of these potential obstacles can be successfully navigated, so that people of all faiths and none can play a full part in public life and work together for the good of the widest community.

Parking is availble at the venue in the North West car park.

Although my interests are varied, I am fundamentally a biblical scholar and literary critic who works on the reception and impact of the Bible, particularly in the contexts of its influence on society, its handling by Pentecostals and Evangelicals globally and its interpretation in music and the arts. My PhD, in the field of biblical ethics, provoked my interest in the role of the Bible as a resource for moral thinking and led me to a lifelong fascination in why people think religion and sacred texts are so important to them in making lifestyle choices and how faith commitments impact our interactions with and contributions to society and the public and political spheres.

Recently this has resulted in many opportunities to reflect on the distinctive contribution that faith brings to leadership both in organisations and in civic life. I led the UK government’s pilot project for the professional development of religious leaders from 2019-20 and continue to work with UK government departments including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to promote the understanding of religion in policy-related contexts. At the same time, I have advised and supported a variety of faith communities (particularly in the UK, India, and Australia) on their political and social engagement strategies.

As an experienced academic project manager, I have led a variety of educational research and development projects for the University of Birmingham, including initiating what has since become our flagship interdisciplinary education activity, ‘The Birmingham Project’, where I was responsible for developing and sustaining the University’s relationships with major international businesses such as IBM, Jaguar Land Rover, PwC, and KPMG. I have managed funded research and engagement projects worth well over £2.5m, including a major, three-year AHRC-supported project, ‘Megachurches and Social Engagement in London’ (2013-16), which investigated the social engagement activities of some of the UK’s largest and most prominent churches.

I now combine leadership of the Cadbury Centre and public engagement work with directing the University of Birmingham’s Master of Public Administration in Faith-Based Leadership and MA in Religion, Politics and Society programmes, whilst continuing to write and teach on cultural-critical approaches to the Bible, contemporary forms of Christian worship and expression (most notably including Pentecostalism) and more recently on faith-based (especially but not only Evangelical Christian) engagement in the fields of culture and social and public policy.

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