Tessera

Writing about Andy Burnham's Catholicism, I've invented something called "The Makerfield Window." See what you think: www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

Analysis: Andy Burnham’s faith is politically safe

How will a Roman Catholic PM approach religion in public life, asks Nick Spencer

churchtimes.co.uk

The last in this series of Reading our Times and the last… well, not ever, but the podcast is changing (listen to the end!). In the meantime, a good question: what has Christianity ever done for England, with @bijanomrani.bsky.social : podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...

What does England owe to Christianity?

Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 23 June · 45min

podcasts.apple.com

“Who counts as human? More precisely, who counts as the kind of human to whom I owe obligations?” Great essay by @lukebretherton.bsky.social in Comment on rediscovering Christian Humanism in the work of Olaudah Equiano tinyurl.com/4ayyyp7p

Christian Humanism Rediscovered

A formerly enslaved African stood at the heart of an empire and redefined what it means to be human. Luke Bretherton on the enduring witness of Olaudah Equiano - Christian humanism personified.

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Brexit vote was 10 years ago tomorrow. It drew on, and supercharged, the debate about Britishness, so we @theosthinktank.bsky.social k have been working on new research looking at what (the British think) it means to be British today. Read more here: tinyurl.com/4xs8w883

Brexit 10 years on: What does it mean to be British today?

Nick Spencer explores what people across the UK believe is important when they think about British identity. 19/06/2026

tinyurl.com

No subject is as vulnerable to counter/claim as immigration. So perhaps we should have a calm, informed, intelligent conversation about it. I did, for @theosthinktank.bsky.social, with @alanmanning4.bsky.social about his book Why immigration policy is hard. Listen here tinyurl.com/m9bwuf4d

What is the truth behind immigration? In conversation with Alan Manning

Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 16 June · 47min

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Is Woke over? If it is, what comes next? If it's not, is it dying? And in any case, what even is "Woke"? The latest Reading our Times discusses The End of Woke by - and with - Andrew Doyle tinyurl.com/5acx4zv2

Is this the end of woke? In conversation with Andrew Doyle

Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 9 June · 47min

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I recently went to Washington to a conference on Christian humanism. In a weird way, being in DC was like stepping back in time. 2000 years back. tinyurl.com/2wfzpxhc

BC in DC: Christian humanism and the Lincoln memorial

Nick Spencer reflects on the real meaning of Christian humanism after visiting Washington DC. 03/06/2026

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In our current @Theosthinktank Reading our Times series on the rise of religious nationalism, we come to one of the most difficult topics, in conversation with Hannah Strømmen, namely how the far right weaponises the Bible. Sober listening. tinyurl.com/2nr9893a

How does the Far Right weaponise the Bible? In conversation with Hannah Strømmen

Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 2 June · 42min

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On science and religion... I am very much looking forward to speaking at this on Thursday. Do join us if you can. tinyurl.com/bp95ej77

Rethinking the Scientific Culture and Shared Sacred Flourishing | Faraday Institute for Science and Religion

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Religious nationalism isn't limited to Christian nationalism. In this week's Reading our Times from @theosthinktank.bsky.social I talk to @soniafaleiro.bsky.social about her book The Robe and the Sword, & how Buddhist nationalism is reshaping Asia: tinyurl.com/mrshjbnt

How is Buddhist nationalism transforming Asia? In conversation with Sonia Faleiro

Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 26 May · 51min

tinyurl.com

A genuinely interesting & perceptive account of what happened, and who was at, the Unite the Kingdom rally last Saturday by @theosthinktank.bsky.social colleagues @glapshynov.bsky.social & Coco Huggins: tinyurl.com/3tt47smk

“Christ, Culture, Country”: Unfurling the Flags of the Unite the Kingdom Rally

A team of our researchers attended the last Unite the Kingdom rally last weekend to investigate the rise of “Christian nationalism”. 22/05/2026

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How do politicians weaponise Christianity? An ever-relevant question, of particular significance of late, and the subject of my discussion with academic and MEP Tobias Cremer on @theosthinktank.bsky.social's Reading our Times this week: tinyurl.com/5cr54pb5

How do politicians weaponise Christianity? In conversation with Tobias Cremer

Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 19 May · 38min

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...And people are interested. 📊 77% of English adults have visited a cathedral in the last 3 years — comparable to museums, galleries and live sporting events. 📊 37% visited more than once in the last year.

Cathedrals are more than just big churches. They’re first and foremost places of worship, but also civic anchors, community hubs, arts venues, and sanctuaries of stillness open to everyone.

Cathedrals have been making headlines for some unexpected reasons lately... But what’s the story behind them? What are people finding so controversial?

📢 Cathedrals are in crisis. Financial pressures are threatening one of our oldest institutions. Can we ensure that our cathedrals are still here for generations to come? Our new report Living Stones with @englishcathedrals.co.uk is out now: bit.ly/43g3Wmg Follow along to find out more👇🧵

Living Stones: English Cathedrals as Sacred Spaces in Changing Times

A report by George Lapshynov and Nathan Mladin exploring the role of cathedrals in modern life.

bit.ly

How widespread is "Christian nationalism" in the UK? Early top-line research findings from @theosthinktank.bsky.social can give some estimation of this. Released today: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026...

How big is Christian Nationalism in the UK?

Nick Spencer unpacks preliminary findings from our research on Christian Nationalism. Is it as widespread as we think? 15/05/2026

theosthinktank.co.uk

Christian Nationalism seems to be on the rise - particularly in the US, but increasingly in Europe. The phrase, however, is often used vaguely and carelessly. So what actually is (American) Christian nationalism? My conversation with @andrew-whitehead.bsky.social : tinyurl.com/362277fv

What is (American) Christian nationalism? In conversation with Andrew Whitehead

Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 12 May · 44min

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Nick Spencer @nickebs.bsky.social · 4mo ago

NEW SERIES of Reading our Times starts today. We're looking at (religious/ Christian) nationalism and the things that drive it (immigration, wokery) with a great line up, starting with Prof. Eric Storm on the past, present and future of nationalism itself tinyurl.com/6xmxzzs8

What can the history of nationalism tell us about its future? In conversation with Eric Storm

Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 5 May · 41min

tinyurl.com

This question underlines so many debates today... immigration, asylum, international aid and development, Iran, Chagos, etc etc. It's a difficult one. What are our moral duties as a nation? www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026...

What are our moral duties as a nation?

Nick Spencer unpacks the use of the Parable of the good Samaritan in political discourse. How much love should we give to which neighbours? 21/04/2026

theosthinktank.co.uk

Nick Spencer @nickebs.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I was really pleased to be able to go into a deep dive on science and religion in discussion with National Association of Scholars about my @oneworldbooks.bsky.social book Magisteria here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Id...

Nick Spencer on Magisteria: The Entangled Histories of Science and Religion.

YouTube video by National Association of Scholars

youtube.com

Lots of people are talking about Christian Nationalism. But what exactly is it? (And what isn’t it?) How Christian? How Islamophobic? And what do Christian Nationalists actually want? Read this explainer from @theosthinktank.bsky.social to get below the surface: tinyurl.com/y9kxjucn

Christian Nationalism: an explainer

What do we mean when we say “Christian Nationalism”? In this long–read, Nick Spencer defines the term ahead our report

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This is a lovely piece on touching on churchgoing, Christian identity, nationalism, ethnic diversity, and socio-economic pressures in Doncaster: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026...

God’s own county: faith, nation, and belonging in Doncaster

Across the UK, cities like Doncaster are facing immense social and economic challenges. Can rooted Christianity offer an antidote? 13/03/2026

theosthinktank.co.uk

Theos @theosthinktank.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Greatly looking forward to talking about genetic engineering, human nature, science, faith, and future with Francis Collins at St Martin in the Fields next month. Do come along! www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on/sci...

Science, Faith and the Future of Humanity – St Martin-in-the-Fields

stmartin-in-the-fields.org

⛪️ Should disused churches become mosques? @nickebs.bsky.social responds to the proposed law from Reform UK which would stop disused churches from being converted into mosques. 🔗 Read it here: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026...

Should churches become mosques?

Nick Spencer responds to Reform UK’s proposed law, which would prevent disused churches from becoming mosques. 05/03/2026

theosthinktank.co.uk