Dr Philip Lewis

Formerly Consultant to the Bishop of Leeds on Islam

Philip advised Anglican Bishops in Bradford on Islam and Christian Muslim Relations for over 25 years, and has lectured at Bradford University's Peace Studies Department on 'Islam in the West' and 'Religions, Conflict and Peace Making'.

Since retiring, Philip's passion is for finding ways to help churches recover a proper confidence in the gospel in the context of religious diversity in general, and Islam in particular.

Virtual lectures

Philip is available to deliver his lectures online, via Zoom or streaming. Please ask about this option when making your booking.

Publications

Young, British and Muslim (Continuum 2007)
'For the Peace of the City: Bradford – a case-study in developing inter-community and inter-religious relations' in World Christianity in Muslim Encounter (Continuum 2009)
Between Naivety and Hostility: Uncovering the Best Christian Responses to Islam in Britain (Authentic Media Limited 2011)
The Routledge Handbook of Christian-Muslim Relations (2018)
British Muslims: New directions in Islamic thought, creativity and activism, co-authored with Sadek Hamid (Edinburgh University Press, 2018)

Lecture titles

Christians and Muslims in Britain today: How Two Missionary Faiths are Learning to Live Together, While Respecting Differences
Leadership of Muslim organisations today is shifting to the third generation and is enabling a new and construcitve pattern of engagement with Christians.
Muslim Religious Leaders in Britain: Towards a New Relationship?
How and where they are trained and attempts to develop relations of trust and collaboration locally.
The Dynamics of Violent Extremism within Islam Today and Possibilities for Deradicalisation
We have to understand the appeal of ISIS-type propaganda to young British Muslims, and must locate that appeal within the challenges they face to make sense of Islam in a western context. Majid Nawaz’s story of how he turned his back on violent extremism and set up the Quilliam Foundation to tackle it illuminates the significant role of a Christian in his journey back from the brink.
The Shari'a: Beyond Fear and Towards a Christian Reflection and Evaluation
Whenever the term shari'a is heard by Christians, it provokes anxiety, even fear. This lecture seeks to demystify the phenomenon and ask how Christians might think critically and constructively about Islamic law, especially in Britian today.
Topics which Continue to Divide the Two Faiths – the Limits of Religious Freedom
To what extent can and should ‘Islamic law’ be accommodated within British society? Does the Islamic Jesus have much in common with the Christ of Christian faith?