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Posts by Nick Spencer

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What are our moral duties as a nation? Nick Spencer unpacks the use of the Parable of the good Samaritan in political discourse. How much love should we give to which neighbours? 21/04/2026

This question underlines so many debates today... immigration, asylum, international aid and development, Iran, Chagos, etc etc. It's a difficult one. What are our moral duties as a nation? www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026...

6 hours ago 0 0 0 1
Nick Spencer on Magisteria: The Entangled Histories of Science and Religion.
Nick Spencer on Magisteria: The Entangled Histories of Science and Religion. YouTube video by National Association of Scholars

I was really pleased to be able to go into a deep dive on science and religion in discussion with National Association of Scholars about my @oneworldbooks.bsky.social book Magisteria here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Id...

4 weeks ago 0 1 0 0
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Christian Nationalism: an explainer What do we mean when we say “Christian Nationalism”? In this long–read, Nick Spencer defines the term ahead our report

Lots of people are talking about Christian Nationalism. But what exactly is it? (And what isn’t it?) How Christian? How Islamophobic? And what do Christian Nationalists actually want? Read this explainer from @theosthinktank.bsky.social to get below the surface: tinyurl.com/y9kxjucn

4 weeks ago 2 3 0 0
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God’s own county: faith, nation, and belonging in Doncaster Across the UK, cities like Doncaster are facing immense social and economic challenges. Can rooted Christianity offer an antidote? 13/03/2026

This is a lovely piece on touching on churchgoing, Christian identity, nationalism, ethnic diversity, and socio-economic pressures in Doncaster: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026...

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
Science, Faith and the Future of Humanity – St Martin-in-the-Fields

Greatly looking forward to talking about genetic engineering, human nature, science, faith, and future with Francis Collins at St Martin in the Fields next month. Do come along! www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on/sci...

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
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Should churches become mosques? Nick Spencer responds to Reform UK’s proposed law, which would prevent disused churches from becoming mosques. 05/03/2026

⛪️ Should disused churches become mosques?

@nickebs.bsky.social responds to the proposed law from Reform UK which would stop disused churches from being converted into mosques.

🔗 Read it here: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026...

1 month ago 0 1 1 0
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Should churches become mosques? Nick Spencer responds to Reform UK’s proposed law, which would prevent disused churches from becoming mosques. 05/03/2026

I've written a piece on whether (redundant) churches should become mosques or whether this should be prohibited. www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2026...

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
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Book review: The New Dark Age: Why liberals must win the culture wars by Nigel Biggar Nigel Biggar has fought academic cancellation, says Nick Spencer

My review of Nigel Biggar's new book, The New Dark Age: Why liberals must win the culture wars: www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

2 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Iron Sharpens Iron - February 2026 » Thinking Faith Network The Landscapes of Science and Religion Nick Spencer is Senior Fellow at Theos: the public theology thinktank, and the author of a number of books and reports, including Magisteria: the entangled histo...

I am speaking at this later this month. Please do join us on-line if you're interested in the science and religion debate: thinkfaith.net/events/iron-...

2 months ago 0 1 0 0
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Analysis: Bible-reading = mass literacy? History suggests that the line between the the two is not simple or obvious, writes Nick Spencer

This is not a topic, I confess, about which I am objective or disinterested. www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

2 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Does the universe have a purpose? In conversation with Philip Goff Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 16/12/2025 · 36m

And so another series of @theosthinktank.bsky.social's Reading our Times comes to an end, with a great interview with @philipgoff.bsky.social in which we simply ask does the universe have a purpose? After a series covering consciousness, quantum, time & God, what else? tinyurl.com/56t5uymc

4 months ago 5 1 0 1
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Frame or picture? What we saw at Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom Carol Service Theos Senior Fellow Nick Spencer unpacks what he saw at the “Unite the Kingdom Carol Service” in Whitehall over the weekend.

Frame or picture? What we saw at Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom Carol Service: tinyurl.com/55e2mxpy

4 months ago 2 0 1 0
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Nick Spencer on science and god Nick Spencer is the guest for this episode of Ratio Talks, part of the series On Religion.

I spoke with Michael Little on his Ratio podcast recently on science, religion, Scopes, Dawkins, God, and other such divine matters: tinyurl.com/y6n7uzxu

4 months ago 3 0 0 0
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John Carey - High Profiles Nick Spencer’s 2011 conversation with the influential literary critic

I was sorry to hear about the death of John Carey, surely the most penetrating and readable literary critic of the last 50 years. He was a bit of a personal hero of mine & I was delighted to interview him years ago about literature, religion & much else: tinyurl.com/whhpr4xr

4 months ago 5 1 0 0
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A Theology of Hope To mark 80 years of Christian Aid, Nick Spencer and Bob Kikuyu unpack a Christian theology of hope, and offers it to a world that needs it. 05/12/2025

Hope can feel distant.

Globally, we face conflict, displacement, climate chaos and retreating democracies.

To mark 80 years of @christianaiduk.bsky.social, @nickebs.bsky.social and Bob Kikuyu ask whether there are deeper reasons to be hopeful.

Follow along to find out more 🧵 bit.ly/48GAuYP

4 months ago 0 1 1 0
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What is the ultimate nature of reality? In conversation with Graham Harman Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 09/12/2025 · 44m

Nobody could accuse us of shying away from big questions @theosthinktank.bsky.social and especially on this week’s episode of Reading our Times. So, in conversation with philosopher Graham Harman, we have... what is the ultimate nature of reality? shorturl.at/6XuRr

4 months ago 4 1 0 0
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What is consciousness? In conversation with Baroness Susan Greenfield Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 02/12/2025 · 42m

Last week we tackled quantum, so this week - obviously - it's consciousness. Tune in to my fascinating @theosthinktank.bsky.social conversation with Susan Greenfield on brain, mind, consciousness & dogs: tinyurl.com/3xa22mme

4 months ago 2 1 0 0
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What does Quantum Theory mean? Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 25/11/2025 · 41m

You don’t understand Quantum Theory. I know. Nor do I. And you think you should, because it’s about to change our world. Indeed. You are in luck today… Lucid, clear, cogent, informed Paul Davies on Quantum 2.0: tinyurl.com/3xtrm35j

4 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Can music redeem time? In conversation with Michael Symmons Roberts Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 18/11/2025 · 46m

Michael Symmons Roberts is, imho, one of the very best poets writing today, so the chance to talk to him about time, peace, God, time, and the power of music was too good to miss. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did: shorturl.at/W794k

5 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Beyond the Classroom: Informal Religion and Worldviews Education in the UK Hannah Rich’s report exploring the places and spaces where people of all ages learn about other faiths outside of the classroom. 13/11/2025

I honestly don’t know who apart from my colleague @hannahmerich.bsky.social could have written our latest @theosthinktank.bsky.social report on RE beyond the classroom. It’s so wide ranging & perceptive. A really important piece of work. Do read, digest and share. tinyurl.com/bde877pe

5 months ago 3 1 0 0
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What can a life tell us about transcendence? Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 11/11/2025 · 44m

What does “transcendence” mean? And how does it relate to "ordinary" human life? Join me in conversation with biographer and philosopher Clare Carlisle here: tinyurl.com/6vkjaztp

5 months ago 2 0 0 1
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Many of the New Atheist arrows fired in the religion wars of 2000s and 2010s hit their target well and hard. The question is, was it the right target?

This week, @nickebs.bsky.social speaks to Gilbert Markus about his book, 'God as nothing'.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r...

5 months ago 1 1 0 0
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Is God nothing? In conversation with Gilbert Markus Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 04/11/2025 · 42m

How can we talk about God, especially if God is "no thing", no part of creation. This is not a new problem. Indeed, it is one that the writers of the Bible and theologians have grappled with for centuries. As we do this week on Reading our Times: tinyurl.com/5ft2z555

5 months ago 2 0 0 0
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On Nationalism: are you proud of Britain? (You really should be) As we start our new research project exploring Christian Nationalism, Nick Spencer reflects on the meaning of national pride. 29/10/2025

I have written a piece on why we should be very proud to be British. www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2025...

5 months ago 1 0 0 0
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What role do genes play in life? Where, if anywhere, does agency reside? How, in effect, does life work?

@nickebs.bsky.social speaks to @philipcball.bsky.social on the brand new series of #ReadingOurTimes

🎧 Tune in here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r...

5 months ago 6 3 1 0
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Reading Our Times Philosophy Podcast · Updated weekly · Reading Our Times is the podcast that explores the books and the ideas that are shaping us today. It is hosted by Nick Spencer, Senior Fellow at the think tank, T...

A new series of Reading our Times starts today, with an opening episode on How life works with the brilliant science writer @philipcball.bsky.social All my interviewees are perceptive - ofc - but this one was esp. so. The book really is illuminating. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...

5 months ago 1 1 1 0
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Trailer: Series 11 of Reading Our Times Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · Trailer · 2m

The new series of Reading our Times gets metaphysical, drops next week, with episodes on life, quantum, transcendence, reality, God, consciousness, music and time with (among others) Philip Ball, Paul Davies, Susan Greenfield and Michael Symmons Roberts: tinyurl.com/dmhm5ktz

6 months ago 4 0 0 0
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Christianity, nationhood and the rise of Christian Nationalism Theos are starting a new two–year project researching the global rise of Christian Nationalism. 16/10/2025

Exciting news from @theosthinktank.bsky.social : www.theosthinktank.co.uk/research/202...

6 months ago 4 1 1 0
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Book review: The Landscapes of Science and Religion: What are we disagreeing about? by Nick Spencer and Hannah Waite Peter Jordan considers an effort to pinpoint the faith-v.-science debate

“a fresh and illuminating way of thinking about science and religion … [and] a very welcome addition to the science-and-religion literature” – Lovely review of our latest book on science and religion in @churchtimes.bsky.social : tinyurl.com/58ntes4e

6 months ago 2 0 0 0
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Analysis: What do flags mean? It depends. . . They do not signify a single set of values, writes Nick Spencer

"Flags absorb meaning from the people who do things with them." www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

6 months ago 1 0 0 0