Theos Think Tank

22/08/2026

"The abstract must always be grounded in the human." 💬

Listen to Nick Spencer and Rowan Williams unpack true human welfare on The Symposium series by the Church Times and St John's College, Cambridge.

Listen back here or on the podcast platform of your choice: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/21-august/audio-video/podcast/the-symposium-nick-spencer-and-rowan-williams-true-human-welfare

Second episode of our series of talks, in association with St John’s College, Cambridge, and the diocese of Ely

21/08/2026

Comments from Rowan Williams about Christian Nationalism have hit headlines: https://bit.ly/4xMBaa6

How authentic is the “Christian” in Christian Nationalism? Is it just a political device? And is it a threat?

We have been asking similar questions in our research.

Find our work defining and unpacking Christian Nationalism here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/christian-nationalism

Former archbishop of Canterbury also has ‘awkward questions’ for activist Tommy Robinson on his claimed faith

14/08/2026

“What job will studying Theology & Religious Studies get you?”

Theology & Religious Studies (TRS) in higher education invites you to explore life's most meaningful questions while gaining skills that employers actively look for.

Here are some real examples of what TRS graduates have gone on to achieve in their careers👇

Our new resource ‘Big Questions. Real-World Skills’ by George Lapshynov explores where studying TRS can take you.

Read more here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/research/2026/08/12/big-questions-realworld-skills

14/08/2026

Are betting shops really the new community hubs?

As the Prime Minister and Premier League question the prominence of gambling companies, Hannah Rich reflects on the knotty ethics of the betting industry.

Read it here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026/08/14/a-bet-on-community

As the Premier League and Prime Minister question the prominence of betting companies, Hannah Rich reflects on the knotty ethics of the gambling industry and the need for regenerated community spaces. 14/08/2026

13/08/2026

Where could studying Theology and Religious Studies take you?

Theology & Religious Studies (TRS) is a course for curious minds. It invites students to explore beliefs that shape our world, drawing together different disciplines and opening up new perspectives. Learning to examine difficult questions matters in a world that can feel deeply divided.

And TRS is practical too.

Engaging with life's big questions develops skills such as communication, analysis of complex information, critical thinking, and navigating disagreement.

These skills are highly valued by employers across fields including law, journalism, policy, education, the civil service, finance and the NGO sector.

Studying TRS in higher education offers more than knowledge. It helps equip students to understand and navigate our world today.

📚 Find out more in our new resource ‘Big Questions. Real-World Skills' by George Lapshynov here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/research/2026/08/12/big-questions-realworld-skills

💬 TRS graduates: what has studying this subject helped you do, think or become? Let us know in the comments.

12/08/2026

In an age of polarisation, declining trust and deep differences, what helps democracy flourish?

On Wednesday 16 September, join us in partnership with the Westminster Abbey Institute for 'Faith in Democracy'.

The latest event in our Theos 20 programme will explore the role of faith in British democracy and the values that sustain public trust in our increasingly pluralist society.

👉 Swipe to meet our speakers.

🎟️ More information and free tickets available here: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-events/lectures-and-talks/2026/september/panel-discussion-faith-in-democracy

10/08/2026

As AI-generated content floods the internet, how do we know what to trust? And what kind of people do we want to become?

On Wednesday 8 September, join Elizabeth Oldfield in conversation with journalist and author Jamie Bartlett for a live recording of The Sacred podcast exploring the future of truth and humanity in the age of AI.

🎟️ Find out more and get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sacred-live-ai-and-the-future-of-being-human-tickets-1994014009580

04/08/2026

Motherhood changes more than a woman's circumstances. It can transform her sense of identity, purpose, relationships, and spirituality.

In a new Church Times analysis, Theos Director Chine McDonald reflects on our latest research, Motherhood, Inside Out, which found that becoming a parent often prompts profound existential questions, yet many mothers lack the language, rituals, or communities to help them navigate this transition.

What might churches, faith communities, and wider society learn from the idea of matrescence? And could there be value in creating spaces that recognise not just the arrival of a baby, but the becoming of a mother?

https://lnkd.in/eNRhceN3

You can also read our new research report via the link in the comments 👇

Rituals are needed to mark such a profound change, writes Chine McDonald

04/08/2026

Nolan's Odyssey isn't just a blockbuster retelling - it's a mirror for an anchorless age. Coco Parkinson–Huggins & George Lapshynov unpack the film's fixation on xenía (sacred hospitality), its eschatological dread, and Nolan's guilt-ridden Odysseus.

Read the review on our website below👇 :

https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026/08/04/nolans-odyssey-an-epic-for-an-anchorless-age

31/07/2026

The process of becoming a mother can change everything – including what women think about.

Our survey, conducted by Ipsos found that women (since becoming mothers) were thinking more about a vast array of topics such as the environment, spirituality and mortality.

Theos and Bible Society commissioned Ipsos to survey women aged 18 to 75 across Great Britain. A representative sample of 4,458 women responded to the online survey. Of these, 3,606 women proceeded with the survey (having been notified that it contained questions about religion and health). The sample included 2,112 self-identified “Mothers” (Biological mothers, Step-mothers or Adoptive mothers).

Interested? Read ‘Motherhood, Inside Out: The Story in Numbers’ by Madeleine Pennington (Ward) and Rhiannon McAleer here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/research/2026/07/30/motherhood-inside-out-the-story-in-numbers