Research highlights

• Challenged fifty years of interpretations of Vatican II, prompting re-evaluation of Catholic approaches to interfaith relations.
• Shaped policy and educational practices in the Clifton Diocese in Bristol.
• Influenced the OCR A-Level Religious Studies syllabus, impacting over 50,000 students by transforming their understanding of religious pluralism. 

For centuries, many attempts have been made to bring people of faith together to enrich their understandings of their own and others' traditions and promote non-discrimination.

Research carried out at Bristol by Professor Gavin D’Costa has helped to advance these efforts by significantly influencing educational practices and interfaith dialogue both nationally and internationally. 

Reinterpreting Vatican II

Much of Professor D’Costa’s research has focused on examining Roman Catholic formal doctrinal teachings on Jews and Muslims in the Second Vatican Council documents (‘Vatican II’, 1963-65). Many Catholics falsely understand the Council to teach the equality of religions and to have abandoned traditional doctrines. 

Opposing this view, Professor D’Costa has argued that the Church’s teachings hold together traditional doctrines, but with a remarkably open and positive attitude to the ‘other’ that can guide interfaith dialogue and encourage working together for the common good. 

Shaping interfaith relations 

Professor D’Costa applied this approach successfully when he served as a special advisor on interfaith matters to the Bishop of Clifton and the Diocese’s Adult Education Director in Bristol -  influencing the Diocese’s training programs for priests, deacons and lay catechists.  

He also played a crucial role in promoting openness toward Jewish and Muslim communities by helping the Diocese to establish an annual Catholic-Jewish-Muslim trialogue.  

The trialogue engaged hundreds of participants including clergy, laity and sixth form students, encouraging constructive dialogue that was described as a ‘model of good practice’ by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. 

International reach  

Professor D’Costa’s research has also had a significant international impact. He has presented his work at conferences and seminars in countries including the United States, Israel, Ireland, Germany and Hungary, reaching over 500 clergy and laity.  

These presentations have helped attendees better understand the Catholic Church’s teachings and its open stance toward Jews and Muslims.

Many have reported discovering areas of social teaching and spirituality where the three faiths share common insights, particularly regarding prayer, attitudes to social action and justice and peace issues.  

Challenging wider Christian approaches  

Professor D’Costa has also examined broader Christian approaches to religious pluralism.

For instance, his research has shown that while some influential modern liberal Christian approaches are commendable in seeking to welcome religious plurality, the underlying philosophical relativism in these positions is problematic and unintentionally undermines genuine interfaith dialogue. 

Counter to some modern views, he has also shown how faith and reason within more traditional Christian approaches can provide both positive theological and social approaches to religious plurality. especially in seeking the common good with those from any religion or no religion 

Transforming religious education 

These findings have since had a significant impact on religious education in the UK. Professor D’Costa’s work was incorporated into the OCR A-Level Religious Studies syllabus in 2014, challenging students to critically examine their views on religious pluralism in ways that promote a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the subject. 

Teachers have since reported that the research has helped to enhance students’ comprehension of the syllabus, Students, for their part, have been prompted to rethink their assumptions about liberal and traditional Christian approaches to religious diversity.  

Professor D’Costa’s work has inspired both students and teachers to engage more thoughtfully with interfaith issues, encouraging them to challenge commonly held views in our culture both constructively and positively.