How might we speak about religion and politics? Here, Fr Ryan Service looks at pluralism, co-responsibility, and friendship as taught by Pope Francis, and what this means for reimagining the political. Reading Pope Francis’ letter to the world Fratelli Tutti (Sisters and Brothers, All), at times, can feel like overhearing a conversation – or better ..read more

Uncovering a surprising flow of influence from Europe to the USA, Tobias Cremer’s new book outlines a new ‘Christianism’ within the populist right. Here, Cameron Howes reviews ‘The Godless Crusade’. The Godless Crusade: Religion, Populism and Right-Wing Identity Politics in the West. Tobias Cremer. Cambridge University Press, 2022.  The hollowing out of hallowed symbols for political gain ..read more

Was the Coronation multifaith and should it have been? James Walters, Director of LSE Religion and Global Society, reflects on King Charles III’s Coronation service. For decades the word on the street was that the coronation of King Charles would be a multifaith affair. The prince who told Jonathan Dimbleby in 1994 that he wanted ..read more

In this coronation service, for the first time, some of the regalia will be presented by Peers who belong to different faith traditions, the King will receive a greeting delivered in unison by Representatives from five other faiths, and Jewish, Sunni and Shia Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Bahá’í, and Zoroastrian representatives will play a ..read more

For our Covenantal Pluralism series, Alberto Cavallarin applies Paul Feyerabend’s philosophical reasoning to the debates around freedom of religion. On a rainy Saturday, a year or so ago, I found myself in an antique bookstore in the beautiful Dutch city of Utrecht. There, hidden amongst dusty encyclopaedias and old French books, I stumbled upon a ..read more

As heated rallies continue in the US, David G. Bromley looks at the nation’s history to bring some perspective to its current conflicts. Among the most critical questions currently confronting America is who we are and where we are. Sometimes it is more pointed: Is there a “we” at all; are we or can we ..read more

Humanitarian responses to violence against women (VAW) in forced displacement rarely account for religion as an influential intersecting category shaping women’s experiences. Yet, Dr Sandra Iman Pertek writes that religion remains an important matter for many displaced women, which should be integrated into interventions for resilience building and vulnerability reduction. Forced displacement is a reality ..read more

In this piece, Dr Iman Dawood analyses the intersecting factors impacting Salafi women’s access to university, including issues with gender-segregation, interest on student loans, and class-based barriers. The subject of Muslim women’s education has repeatedly made headlines in recent years. Global news stories about attacks on female students in Nigeria and Pakistan by actors claiming ..read more

Sharing some of the conversations within his new edited volumes, Exploring Religious Diversity and Covenantal Pluralism in Asia, Dennis R. Hoover compares global instances of religious diversity and religious uniformity and their respective impacts upon social harmony. In many societies throughout history, lack of religious uniformity has often been feared as a source of social ..read more

As February 24th approaches, conversations about the role of religion in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue. Here, Lucian N. Leustean analyses the key milestones which have shaped religious mobilisation towards the ongoing war. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains a religious war and requires not only political and military answers but also a religious solution. In an ..read more