News

How a break in fasting evolved into a celebration of motherhood
17th March 2023
Professor John Wolffe, Religious Studies, writes on how Mothering Sunday has evolved over the centuries from its origins as a break in lent to a secular celebration of family.
Society’s biggest challenges explored by third annual SSGS magazine
26th September 2022
The new SSGS magazine showcases the most up-to-date teaching and research from the school, delving into everything from the cost-of-living crisis to space ethics, via the science of long-term love and decolonising religious studies.
Join the OU Tilt this summer solstice
8th June 2022
With the summer solstice almost upon us, Stephen Peake, Professor of Climate Change, and Graham Harvey, Professor of Religious Studies, are asking others to share how they’ll be celebrating.
TOTEM LATAMAT is laid to rest after sharing an important message at COP26
2nd December 2021
Following a month-long tour of the country which concluded at COP26 in Glasgow last month, TOTEM LATAMAT – a 4.5m tall totem from Mexico – has been laid to rest at a special ceremony.
Religious Studies Professor supports Indigenous voices at COP26
29th September 2021
Professor of Religious Studies Graham Harvey supports Indigenous voices at COP26 with TOTEM LATAMAT, which tours the country this autumn.
The new SSGS magazine
4th November 2020
We're pleased to announce the publication of SSGS Magazine, which offers insight into the breadth of work across the School's eight disciplines.
A festival conference in the year the fields fell quiet
2nd September 2020
Festivals Research and COVID-19: Virtual Community, Activism, Spirituality, an online conference hosted by the school of Religious Studies at The Open University will take place on Tuesday September 15^th
This stale boredom: acedia in a time of lockdown
3rd July 2020
How can monks help us to cope with COVID-19? Richard Irvine, Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Religious Studies at The Open University explores this question in a blog written for the OU's Religious Studies blog series
Festivals Research and COVID-19
3rd July 2020
In 2020, after 50 years of Glastonbury, festival fields will be silent. An online conference has been organised, hosted by The Open University, to reflect on the impact COVID-19 has had on festivals, protestivals, activism and spirituality
Understanding conspiracy theories
2nd May 2020
Dr David Roberston, Lecturer in Religious Studies at The Open University, writes for the Religion Media Centre. His article explores what conspiracy theories tell us about the problems in our society