Centre for Philosophy of Religion and Theology

We are a community committed to expanding and diversifying the philosophy of religion and philosophical theology.

We work across a range of different religious traditions including Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, African traditional religions and Afro-Brazilian traditions. Our research takes an interdisciplinary approach, working at the intersections between philosophy and theology, and cognate disciplines such as religious studies, sociology, psychology and anthropology.    

We are located in the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science, which provides a fertile environment for cross-disciplinary research in the fields of philosophy and religion, drawing together the perspectives of philosophers, theologians, scholars of religion,  and historians of science.  In addition to bringing the tools of philosophical analysis to religious concepts and beliefs, our distinctive approach to philosophy of religion comprises close attention to several key aspects: 

• living religion: the role  of religion in people’s lives 

• religious practices: rituals, sacrifice, forms of worship 

• experience and emotions: happiness, suffering  wellbeing 

• narratives: scriptural, mythological, biographical, artistic 

• a global perspective, encompassing religious traditions from every inhabited continent of the world 

• christology and conceptions of God 

• religion, mental health, neurodiversity and disability 

• religion, in/justice, politics and the environment  

• theodicy, the problem of evil and theologies of suffering 

• Wittgensteinian approaches to philosophy of religion 

• comparative and cross-cultural philosophy of religion.

We offer supervision and support to students undertaking research degrees in a wide range of topics in the area of Philosophy of Religion and philosophical theology. Supervision is available for PhD, MPhil and Masters by Research. Centre members are currently supervising PhD students on topics including Indian philosophy of religion; philosophy of religion, emotion and mental health; divine attributes; philosophical theology; political and ecological theology. 

We host a number of public and private events. 

Unless otherwise stated, all seminars will take place in person and online on Thursdays in the Botany House Seminar Room (Room 1.03) from 11.30am  – 1pm. 

If you wish to attend or be added to the mailing list, please email the Centre Director, Dr Tasia Scrutton. All are welcome to attend. Should you be unable to attend in person, you can still join online. Contact Tasia for the login details. 

A full list of upcoming events can be found below and you can read about previous events here.