Exploring religions, cultures, and shared human questions
As one of Al-Mahdi Institute’s six specialist research areas, Societies and Cultures explores diverse religious traditions and cultural expressions, from the Abrahamic faiths to global spiritualities. We address shared ethical, philosophical, and social concerns—such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and interfaith relations through a cross-disciplinary lens. Guided by our Research Lead, we host workshops, seminars, publications, and visiting fellowships. Our aim is to encourage meaningful dialogue across traditions while situating them within broader intellectual and cultural contexts.
Our conferences and workshops bring scholars together to explore how religions and cultures engage with pressing ethical and social issues, from interfaith relations to technology and society.
Through podcasts, lectures, and book talks, we share research on religion, culture, and ethics with wider audiences, encouraging dialogue beyond academia.
Our seminars invite global scholars to present new research on comparative religion and cultural studies, fostering cross-disciplinary exchange on contemporary human concerns.
Proceedings from our events are published in edited collections, preserving diverse perspectives on the intersection of religion, society, and culture.
Muhammed Reza Tajri, PhD (2023), Lancaster University, is Lecturer in Arabic and Research Lead for Societies and Cultures. With a background in traditional Islamic studies, his academic work focuses on sociological approaches to Muslim communities. He studied at the Ḥawza ʿIlmiyya of London, The Islamic College, and Middlesex University, before further training in Damascus. He later completed MA’s in Islamic Studies (London) and Islam in Contemporary Britain (Cardiff). His doctoral research examined evolving perceptions of Shīʿī religious authority on British university campuses, and his interests include Muslims in Europe, contemporary Shīʿism, identity, authority, and gender.
We welcome collaborations in advancing the field of Societies and Cultures. Whether through submitting papers, participating in events, accessing our resources, or proposing joint projects, join us in fostering thoughtful scholarship.
