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Thematic Article

Can smaller subjects thrive when small is no longer beautiful? Reflections from Theology and Religious Studies

orcid-imageJohn M.G. Barclay*email-imageJohn M.G. Barclay*

John M.G. Barclay FBA is Lightfoot Professor of Divinity Emeritus at Durham University. His research interests lie in early Christianity, early Judaism, and the theology of Paul. He was President of TRS-UK (the national body representing Theology & Religious Studies) from 2018 to 2020.

email-image john.barclay@durham.ac.uk

Abstract

In view of the current experience of UK units in Theology and Religious Studies (TRS), reflections are offered on the benefits and potential threats in an era when it is fashionable for university authorities to amalgamate smaller units in the arts and humanities. Three strategies are highlighted: exercising leadership, cultivating a distinct and coherent identity, and creating persuasive local and translocal narratives. The experience of TRS is that small does not, and need not mean ‘weak’. But clear strategies and wise tactics that fit the local context (some are suggested here) are necessary for the continuance of a subject that is of crucial national and international significance. This article is published in the thematic collection ‘On recent closures and threats of closure in the Humanities and Social Sciences’, edited by Regenia Gagnier.

Keywords

theologyreligious studiesamalgamationleadershipidentity
Published on: 20 March 2025
Volume: 13
Issue: Issue 1
Article ID: a04
Article view count: 54
Article download count: 1
Copyright statement
© The author(s) 2025. This is an open access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License
Cite this article
Barclay, J.M.G. (2025), ‘Can smaller subjects thrive when small is no longer beautiful? Reflections from Theology and Religious Studies’, Journal of the British Academy, 13(1): a04 https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/013.a04

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Thematic article

Normal View Dyslexic View

Can smaller subjects thrive when small is no longer beautiful? Reflections from Theology and Religious Studies

orcid-imageJohn M.G. Barclay*email-imageJohn M.G. Barclay*

John M.G. Barclay FBA is Lightfoot Professor of Divinity Emeritus at Durham University. His research interests lie in early Christianity, early Judaism, and the theology of Paul. He was President of TRS-UK (the national body representing Theology & Religious Studies) from 2018 to 2020.

email-image john.barclay@durham.ac.uk