Centre for Religion and Public Life research clusters

Centre for Religion and Public Life research into the intersections of religion, health and well-being is of a twofold nature.

Part of it is empirical, examining the role of religious communities and organisations in public health services locally and internationally, as well as the role of religious beliefs and practices in promoting or hindering mental and physical health and well-being.

Part of it is theological and philosophical, exploring the contribution of religious belief and aesthetic goods to human flourishing and spiritual well-being, as well as the relationship between religious and secular perspectives on the nature of well-being.

Researchers

• Dr Alistair McFadyen
• Dr Jo Sadgrove
• Dr Tasia Scrutton
• Professor Emma Tomalin
• Professor Mark Wynn

Postgraduate research students

• Anthea Colledge

Key Publications

Tasia Scrutton, “Is Depression a Sin or a Disease? A Critique of Moralising and Medicalising Models of Mental Illness”, Journal of Disability and Religion 19/4 (2015), 285-311.

Major projects

Mark Wynn and Tasia Scrutton held a grant for a project on Mental Suffering, the Experience of Beauty, and Well-Being, funded by the John Templeton Foundation and the Philosophy Department at St Louis University (2016-17).

Impact and engagement

Emma Tomalin and Jo Sadgrove carried out research into the role of places of worship as public health settings in Leeds, commissioned by Public Health Leeds (2015).