One of the distinctive achievements of the Bristol School of Multiculturalism is the formulation of an inclusive model of 'multicultural moderate secularism' (Modood) which positively embraces the potential contributions of plural (ethno-)religious communities to the public good. This proceeds from a notion of substantive political equality among such communities allowing for differential, rather than uniform, kinds of recognition by the state (e.g., differences of constitutional status, public funding, consultative access and so forth), according to their diverse circumstances and public contributions. This has recently been refined into a contextually-sensitive notion of the 'multidimensional recognition' of religion (Thompson and Modood). In this seminar I critically probe the notion of recognition operative in this approach. I suggest that 'recognition' by the state (as distinct to other institutions) requires further specification if it is to do the work assigned it. I raise the question whether the exemplary aspiration to inclusion animating this approach may impose risks on certain religious communities of being co-opted into serving state purposes which may be in tension with their own religious identities. I use the established status of the Church of England as a case study to this end.

Dr Jonathan Chaplin is a political theologian and a Fellow of Wesley House, Cambridge, where he contributes to the work of the Centre for Faith in Public Life. His publications include Beyond Establishment: Resetting Church-State Relations in England (SCM 2022), Faith in Democracy: Framing a Politics of Deep Diversity (SCM 2021) and Multiculturalism: A Christian Retrieval (Theos 2011).

Online link - https://bristol-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/7397144894?pwd=VExGNjdBbCtQVkc3R1N2R2txblRodz09