Media Watch
A very 'Anglican' schism
30 Jun - The Times
Islam is stuck in the Middle Ages, says leading interfaith expert
16 Jun - The Times
Anglican church in meltdown over gays and women
16 Jun - The Times
Pilgrimage with a packed lunch
12 Jun - The Guardian
Politically correct social workers and police 'ignoring abuse' in Asian families
12 Jun - Daily Mail
Indonesia restricts Ahmadiyah Islamic group
12 Jun - Radio Australia
Muslim legal group says forced marriages causing a crisis
12 Jun - The Birmingham Post
subscribe to Media WatchReuters AlertNet
U.S. salmonella probe expands to Mexico - CNN
FACTBOX-Tuberculosis around the world
FEATURE-Siberian jail is champion in fight against TB
Ex-hostage reunited with children in Colombia
UK: Abusive Ex-Commander Allowed to Return to Sri Lanka
INTERVIEW-Pakistan lawyers' movement leader sees more protests
Deadliest malaria cases on rise in UK-study
Obama wades into controversy with Iraq comments
Publications
‘Women have borne the brunt of our failed multi-culturalism’,
argues Jenny Taylor in Ethics in Brief Spring 2008 issue
Crimes of the Commuinty:
Honour-based violence in the UK
‘A devastating report on the rise of "honour-based" violence against women from immigrant communities in the UK. It is devastating not just because it reveals the complicity of some "community leaders" in killings, attempted murder and beatings, but also because its sources are so authoritative . . . [The Crown Prosecution Service] makes the disturbing point that areas of Islamist terrorism and honour crimes coincide almost exactly: we are dealing here with a threat to security as well as freedoms.’ - The Daily Telegraph
ISBN: 978-1-903386-644
Christianity or Occult?
As cases of kindoki or ‘child witch’ abuse re-surface in Britain, a new downloadable report brings together material by leading African and English scholars from a recent symposium that throws light on some of the allegations.
A DVD of the event, which includes all the presentations, is available price £10 from Sola Kujore www.jesushouse.org.uk
Young, British and Muslim
All four of the bombers involved in 7/7, the deadly attack on London’s transport system in July 2005, were aged 30 or under. The spectre of extremist Islam looms large and Muslim youth in the UK are increasingly linked to radical Islamic movements. A clear, balanced examination of this complex issue is long overdue. Philip Lewis sets out to address this by looking at the lives and beliefs of young Muslims aged 18 to 30, against a backdrop of the problems any migrant community face. Beginning with an overview of British Muslim communities, he goes on to explore the nature of the intergenerational gap in the Muslim community, showing how normal tensions are exaggerated as children are educated in a language and culture different to that of their parents. Patriarchal ‘clan politics’ and a breakdown in communication between young Muslims and traditional Muslim leaders are dispossessing Islamic youth, leading a small but significant minority to turn to radical groups for somewhere to belong and something to believe in. Lewis concludes by identifying a generational shift from ‘clan politics’ to what he calls a ‘new professionalism’ and demonstrates how new organizations and networks of Muslim thinkers are springing up all the time – allowing young Muslims to find positive identities and outlets for their concerns and energies.
Phil Lewis lectures in the Department for Peace Studies, a world leading research center in peace and conflict studies at the University of Bradford. He is the Inter-Faith Adviser to the Bishop of Bradford, sits on the Commission of British Muslims and Islamophobia and is the author of Islamic Britain (IB Tauris).
ISBN: 0826497306
Read Michael Nazir-Ali’s new book, Conviction and Conflict
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali was born to a Muslim mother and a Christian father. He studied theology at Cambridge, going on to become only the second non-white bishop in England and the first diocesan bishop. He is a consultant to the Prime Minister on Muslim affairs. Nazir-Ali sets out fundamental guidelines on the role of religion in society and its relationship to nationalism, ideology and political institutions, and examines Christian-Muslim dialogue with particular relationship to the rise of Arab, Indian and Turkish nationalism. Of particular concern is the relationship of religion to law and the justifiability of armed conflict.
ISBN: 0826486150
Not for Sale: Raising Awareness, Ending Exploitation
Not for Sale is available now through our online shop, from Wesley Owen stores across the country and from Methodist Publishing House.
This is a must read for all those seeking to understand the issues surrounding sexual exploitation and abuse in our society today - the human cost of UK prostitution today and the scourge of trafficking for sexual exploitation exposed to our senses as never before.
Commissioned by CHASTE and including in its editorial team Rev Dr Carrie Pemberton, a recognised expert in the field of trafficking particularly that of sexual exploitation - this book drives home a message for our times. Using a wide range of literary styles and modes of communication from case studies, personal testimonies, poetry, prose reflection, theological meditation, song and trenchant liturgy, this anthology of newly comissioned pieces makes clear that prostitution is not the oldest profession, but one of the oldest forms of violence against women condoned by society and promoted through commerce.
Not for Sale is a book for all those who want to make a difference to the prevailing culture of sexual commoditisation of our times.
Not for Sale eds. Carrie Pemberton, Alison Myers, Lucy Berry. Publisher: Inspire, Methodist Publishing House (MPH), September 2007
ISBN: 1905958110
Faith and Power
In the aftermath of the London suicide bombings, the re-issue of this prophetic book, first published in 1998, critiquing the inadequate response of the 'secular' state and the Christian church to political Islam is timely.
Faith and Power: Christianity and Islam in Secular Britain By L. Newbigin, L. Sanneh and J. Taylor. SPCK, 2006. With a new post-July 7 introduction by Lamin Sanneh.
ISBN: 1-597522-228-7
PDF Sample Chapters
Chapter 12 ‘Religion, Law and Social Policy: The Myth of Neutrality’
by Jenny Taylor
Chapter 19 ‘Towards the Good of the City’
by Lesslie Newbigin
Round Table
The war in Northern Uganda is both rooted in religion, and reinforced by spiritual powers. The failure of International agencies to take these facts seriously prolonged the war with devastating consequences, and prompted a unique response from Britain's churches. Jenny Taylor reports.
The Round Table - Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs
'Taking Spirituality Seriously: Northern Uganda and Britain's "Break the Silence" Campaign',
Vol. 94.382, October 2005, pp. 559 - 574.
ISSN: 0035-8533
Predicting Religion
Religious bodies - usually through key individuals - have had considerable direct political influence over the last twenty years, contrary to some sociological theorists. This chapter, based on a paper given to the British Sociological Association Study of Religion group provides the evidence.
Predicting Religion (eds. G. Davie, P. Heelas, L. Woodhead) Publ. Ashgate, 2003 'After Secularism: British Government and the Inner Cities' pp. 120 - 134.
ISBN: 0754630102
Political Theology
Secularization theory purported both to study and in some instances, predict the death of religion. This paper uses evidence from Government documents to show that secularization in Britain has in part been a power struggle, that can be - and has been - reversed, often through Muslim pressure.
Political Theology Journal 'There's Life in Establishment - But Not as We Know It, Vol. 5.3, July 2004, pp. 229 - 349.
Lapido Blog
Rudeboy tactics and evangelism
Undercover mosque: How did police get it so wrong?
Fitna: not for mice
The Archbishop’s bomb
06 Jun 2008
28 May 2008
08 Apr 2008
08 Feb 2008
Downloadable Publications
Ethics in Brief
‘Women have borne the brunt of our failed multi-culturalism’, argues Jenny Taylor in Ethics in Brief Spring 2008 issue
Christianity or Occult?
As cases of kindoki or ‘child witch’ abuse re-surface in Britain, a new downloadable report brings together material by leading African and English scholars from a recent symposium that throws light on some of the allegations.
Featured Publications
Crimes of the Community
A devastating report on the rise of "honour-based" violence against women from immigrant communities in the UK. It is devastating not just because it reveals the complicity of some "community leaders" in killings, attempted murder and beatings, but also because its sources are so authoritative...
Young, British and Muslim
'A most important book on British Muslims. It explodes many contemporary stereotypes to reveal a picture which is far more complex than is often supposed. It shines a light onto both new areas of menace and new avenues of hope. Every politician and policy-maker should read it.'
Paul Vallely, The Independent
Conviction and Conflict
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali sets out fundamental guidelines on the role of religion in society and its relationship to nationalism, ideology and political institutions, and examines Christian-Muslim dialogue with particular relationship to the rise of Arab, Indian and Turkish nationalism.
Not for Sale
This is a must read for all those seeking to understand the issues surrounding sexual exploitation and abuse in our society today - the human cost of UK prostitution today and the scourge of trafficking for sexual exploitation exposed to our senses as never before.
More information and Sample Chapters »