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Accordingly, InSpiRe works to:

  •  Promote reconciliation within individuals.

Our aim is to pursue the goal of developing the whole individual by taking seriously what it means for human beings to be ‘spiritual’. Our resources will be available to spiritual seekers from all traditions and in dialogue with other faith, psychological and philosophical traditions.

  • Promote reconciliation between individuals and communities in British society and globally.

By exploring the sources of conflict we endeavour to understand its causes and the means whereby peaceful resolution can occur. In pursuing this aim we explicitly acknowledge the role of faith in transforming and promoting reconciliation between people.

  • Promote environmental reconciliation.

In the face of the disastrous effects that humanity is having on the earth we feel that the imperative for people of faith to seek reconciliation between humanity and the earth is now more urgent than ever.

Activities

The Centre promotes these aims through the following means:

Research:

InSpiRe sponsors regular international conferences on themes connected to spirituality and reconciliation. It promotes the highest levels of excellence in research and scholarship in the areas of spirituality and reconciliation through recruiting research students and developing educational programmes in the area. Past conferences include:

  • Sources of Transformation: Revitilising Christian Spirituality (2009)
  • The Cave of the Heart: Contemplation, Mindfulness and Social Renewal (2012)
  • The Catholic Church in Dialogue: Ecclesium Suam and its Legacy (2014)
  • Mental Well-Being: Listening with Compassion (2015)
  • Religion, Identity and Conflict (2016)

Resource:

InSpiRe offers a resource to national and international networks seeking insight into the role of faith within the world today. Publications arising from past conferences include:

  • Sources of Transformation: Revitilising Christian Spirituality. Ed E. Howells and P.M.Tyler, London: Continuum, 2010
  • Teresa of Avila 1515-2015: Mystical Theology and Spirituality in the Carmelite Tradition. Ed E. Howells and P. M. Tyler. London: Routledge, 2016
  • Theology and Power: International Perspectives. Ed S.Bullivant, E. Genilo, D. Pilario and A. Brazal. London: Paulist, 2016
  • Mystical Theology:Renewing the Contemplative Tradition. Ed C. Cook, J. McLean, P.M. Tyler, London: Routledge, 2017

Realisation:

  • The Centre hosts public lectures, colloquia and conferences that disseminate the fruits of academic and scholarly research to a wider public. It promotes dialogue between different traditions, as well as reflecting on the practice and principles of dialogue. It promotes individual transformation and knowledge transfer through short courses and retreats held both at St Mary’s and further afield, including visits to centres of spirituality and reconciliation throughout the world. International collaborators have included Christ University, Bengaluru, India; The Anglican Study Centre, Rome and the Institut Catholique in Paris. Finally, it is available as a resource to all faith communities, especially the Christian churches, wanting to understand the role of Christian spirituality at the service of reconciliation.