Research

Leeds is a centre for excellent research into the changing role and character of religion in the world today.  Leeds Theology and Religious Studies scholarship is internationally respected.

We study religion in its local and global contexts, in its diversity and specificity. We welcome research students and visiting scholars from across the world, and hold high-profile conferences and seminars that attract diverse audiences.

We are committed to public engagement, and to research that makes a difference in the world. We work in partnership with faith communities, public bodies and other institutions

We have research expertise in sociology, theology, ethnography, textual studies, history, anthropology, global development - and we apply all these approaches to key questions about contemporary religion in public life. (More details on individual staff expertise and research supervision).

The focus for our research is the Centre for Religion and Public Life.

Major recent and current research projects in the department include:

• Alistair McFadyen and Melanie Prideaux, 'Effective Community Policing: Negotiating Changing Religious Identities' (2011) - report of research project for Cambridge Interfaith Programme' Download report 
• Media Portrayals of Religion and the Secular Sacred
• Sexuality and Global Faith Networks
• The Community Religions Project, conducting pioneering research with local religious communities