About Manchester
"We do things differently here." --Anthony Wilson, on Manchester
Manchester is a vibrant cosmopolitan city that is often referred to as Britain's second city, or the Gateway to, or even the Capital of, the North. Famed for its renowned contributions in particular to music and industry, not to mention its role in the birth of the computer, Manchester continues to sustain its global significance both culturally and commercially, which was recently noted with the discovery of graphene by Nobel prize-winning scientists based at the University.
It's also not a bad place to do theology. Manchester, through its rich history, has attracted diverse cultures, and the University's Religions & Theology (R&T) department has a fantastic reputation of responding to, and engaging with this context. Unafraid of addressing concerns as diverse as the city, the department is home to researchers looking at a range of topics spanning from ancient to contemporary times, exploring a considerable number of religious traditions as well as secular traditions. Postgraduates in the R&T department research and study an equally broad range of topics: from critical studies of Paul's letters to religion in India; from Early Christian women to the theology of the 'cyborg'. Such research topics are bolstered by the department's numerous institutions and centres of excellence, including the Lincoln Theological Institute (LTI), the Centre for Jewish Studies (CJS), and the Centre for Religion and Political Culture.
The R&T department additionally benefits from a number of links with other disciplines, departments and institutes, which enriches the quality and uniqueness of its research output and its standing. Within the University, R&T is part of the recently-formed School of Arts, Languages and Cultures (the largest of its kind in the UK), and interdisciplinary connections and conversations are encouraged at various levels. At School level, there are affiliations with numerous interdisciplinary research institutions, such as the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI), the Centre for the Study of Sexuality and Culture (CSSC), and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in the Arts and Languages (CIDRAL).
Connections are also fostered with organisations and institutions beyond the School. The University's own 'Cultural Assets' include the John Rylands Library, Deansgate, the Manchester Museum, and the Whitworth Art Gallery, all of which house rich collections of images, icons and idols (including those featured on this website, not to mention the St. John Fragment at JRL - the earliest known fragment of the New Testament in any language) which are definitely worth checking out during your visit (note however, that the Whitworth Art Gallery is closed until 14 February 2015 for a major redevelopment). Beyond the University, R&T has strong collaborative links with other universities in the region and beyond, as well as with the religious communities of Manchester, such as the strong Jewish community, Manchester Cathedral, and the Buddhism Centre in the city's Northern Quarter.
All of this makes Manchester - the city and the University - an important and unrivalled centre for such diverse theological interests and engagements, and we were delighted to welcome delegates to both the city and the conference.
It's also not a bad place to do theology. Manchester, through its rich history, has attracted diverse cultures, and the University's Religions & Theology (R&T) department has a fantastic reputation of responding to, and engaging with this context. Unafraid of addressing concerns as diverse as the city, the department is home to researchers looking at a range of topics spanning from ancient to contemporary times, exploring a considerable number of religious traditions as well as secular traditions. Postgraduates in the R&T department research and study an equally broad range of topics: from critical studies of Paul's letters to religion in India; from Early Christian women to the theology of the 'cyborg'. Such research topics are bolstered by the department's numerous institutions and centres of excellence, including the Lincoln Theological Institute (LTI), the Centre for Jewish Studies (CJS), and the Centre for Religion and Political Culture.
The R&T department additionally benefits from a number of links with other disciplines, departments and institutes, which enriches the quality and uniqueness of its research output and its standing. Within the University, R&T is part of the recently-formed School of Arts, Languages and Cultures (the largest of its kind in the UK), and interdisciplinary connections and conversations are encouraged at various levels. At School level, there are affiliations with numerous interdisciplinary research institutions, such as the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI), the Centre for the Study of Sexuality and Culture (CSSC), and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in the Arts and Languages (CIDRAL).
Connections are also fostered with organisations and institutions beyond the School. The University's own 'Cultural Assets' include the John Rylands Library, Deansgate, the Manchester Museum, and the Whitworth Art Gallery, all of which house rich collections of images, icons and idols (including those featured on this website, not to mention the St. John Fragment at JRL - the earliest known fragment of the New Testament in any language) which are definitely worth checking out during your visit (note however, that the Whitworth Art Gallery is closed until 14 February 2015 for a major redevelopment). Beyond the University, R&T has strong collaborative links with other universities in the region and beyond, as well as with the religious communities of Manchester, such as the strong Jewish community, Manchester Cathedral, and the Buddhism Centre in the city's Northern Quarter.
All of this makes Manchester - the city and the University - an important and unrivalled centre for such diverse theological interests and engagements, and we were delighted to welcome delegates to both the city and the conference.
The image (top) is a detail from a 17th century Bhagavata Purana scroll (Sanskrit MS 7, John Rylands Library)
and is reproduced by courtesy of the University Librarian and Director, The John Rylands Library, University of Manchester.
The image (above) is a photograph of Samuel Alexander building, taken 7/3/14 by the Conference Organisers.
The image (above) is a photograph of Samuel Alexander building, taken 7/3/14 by the Conference Organisers.
