Faith in the public realm

Adam Dinham is Reader in Social Policy and Director of the Faiths and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London. He has practised as a Social Worker and Community Development Worker and researches extensively on the public role of faiths. He is also Visiting Professor at the University of Calgary and advisor to the Faith Based Regeneration Network.Robert Furbey is Principal Lecturer in Urban Sociology at Sheffield Hallam University. He has contributed to several major research projects exploring the engagement of religious organisations and communities in public life. Professor Vivien Lowndes is Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) at De Montfort University, Leicester. She has published widely on local governance and citizen participation and has undertaken pioneering research on the changing role of faith groups in public life.

"This is a timely volume. ...well edited and well presented..." James A Beckford in Journal of Contemporary Religion

• Faith and the public realm ~ Adam Dinham and Vivien Lowndes; Controversies of 'public faith' ~ Robert Furbey; 'Soft' segregation: Muslim identity, British secularism and inequality ~ David Cheesman and Nazia Khanum; How participation changes things: 'Inter-faith', 'multi-faith' and a new public imaginary ~ Paul Weller; Faith, multiculturalism and social cohesion: A policy conversation ~ Ted Cantle, Dilwar Hussain and Maqsood Ahmed In conversation; Blurred encounters? Religious literacy, spiritual capital and language ~ Christopher Baker; Religion, political participation and civic engagement: Women's experiences ~ Brenda O'Neill; Young people and faith activism: British Muslim youth - glocalisation and the umma ~ Richard Gale and Therese O'Toole; Faith-based schools: Institutionalising parallel lives? ~ John Flint; Faith, government and regeneration: A contested discourse ~ Richard Farnell; Faith and the voluntary sector: Distinctive yet similar? ~ Rachael Chapman; Conclusions ~ Adam Dinham, Robert Furbey and Vivien Lowndes.