A variety of cutting-edge research projects are currently being conducted by researchers affiliated with the Cambridge Interfaith Programme.
Religion & Global Challenges
The Religion & Global Challenges Initiative seeks to generate tangible and sustainable solutions to worldwide problems by deepening understanding of the role that religious communities play – and could play – in exacerbating or in alleviating such problems. It will bring together theologians, social and natural scientists and religious communities to think through the most pressing global challenges facing us today.
Scripture & Violence
Scripture & Violence seeks to illuminate the complex relationship between scriptural texts and real-world acts of violence, challenging assumptions that are commonly held in the public sphere. Free group discussion resources and guides are available.
Holocaust memory and Muslims in Germany
The first major study to analyse and propose ways of improving Holocaust education programs designed for Muslims.
God and human speech
Theologians and empirical scientists collaborate in the area of psychology and language. Prof Daniel Weiss & Prof Napoleon Katsos are co-investigators on this Templeton Foundation-funded grant, led by Dr Joanna Leidenhag (Leeds).
Material approaches and interfaith encounter
Bringing together academics across disciplines, interfaith practitioners, and educators, this strand of research activity is strongly practice-linked, asking about the role of objects in religious encounter.
Religion as a conflict driver in Ethiopia
Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Prof Jörg Haustein leads this project exploring interactions between religion, ethnicity and other parameters at five sites in Ethiopia.
Turkish-Armenian relations
Together with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Cambridge Interfaith Programme is hosting a scheme with postdoctoral researchers focused on relations between Turkey and Armenia, including historical and contemporary perspectives. Throughout 2021–2023, these scholars are carrying out fresh research, and developing skills to share their learning in the media and with policy-makers.
The Value of Water (fka Water efficiency in faith and diverse communities)
Initiated by a grant from the Ofwat Innovation Fund for a multi-partner project (Water efficiency in faith and diverse communities) the Cambridge Interfaith Programme continues to explore and deepen an understanding of how diverse religious communities engage with water.
Making British Islam across generations
How do different generations of Muslims understand what it means to be a Muslim in the UK? This is a collaboration between University of Cambridge Divinity Faculty and the Everyday Muslim Heritage and Archive Initiative.
Entangled otherings: Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism
Sponsored by the German Research Exchange programme (DAAD), this three-year project explores the complicated relationships between antisemitism, islamophobia, and other kinds of racism and discrimination.