Professor Brian Walker

Biography

Professor Brian Walker is an Honorary Fellow in the Centre for Religion, Reconciliation and Peace. He was awarded his MA (with distinction), in Religion: Rhetoric and Rituals of Death, by the University of Southampton in 2001, with a study of ‘The Dynamics of Hope’. In 2005, he gained his PhD from the University of Winchester; his thesis was titled ‘Hope within an Abrahamic Dialogue’. This investigation into the transformational content of hope emergent from dialogue between contemporary Judaic, Christian and Muslim advocates developed from multi-religious engagement in the United Kingdom and across sub-Saharan Sierra Leone.

Professor Walker has extensive experience in multi-religious cooperation for justice, reconciliation and peace. He was founding Director of Winchester Centre of Religion, Reconciliation and Peace at the University of Winchester. The centre is developing through a joint partnership with Religions for Peace International (New York) and St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace (London). Professor Walker focusses upon research into multi-religious action for restorative justice, transformative reconciliation and sustainable peace.

Professor Walker has engaged with leaders of many faiths from nations across Europe, including Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. His contacts also include peacebuilders from diverse faiths across Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and Oceania.

Publications

• ‘Multi-religious Action for Reconciliation and Peace’, Interfaith Encounters and Social Change Conference, University of Winchester (Winchester: 2010)
• ‘Promoting a Spirituality that Reconciles’, Centre for Initiatives in Spirituality and Reconciliation, St Mary’s College (Twickenham: 2010)
• Faith-Based Organizations Forum on Multi-religious Cooperation for Humanitarian Relief, Development and Peace. Editor, Religions for Peace International (Frankfurt: 2008)
• ‘Different Faiths, Common Action: Strategic Plan 2008-2011’ Religions for Peace Europe Strategic Conference (Paris: 2008)
• ‘From Dialogue to Cooperative Action: Moving from face-to-face dialogue to side-by-side action’ Religions for Peace Europe (Rovereto: 2008)
• ‘Our common European values and identity: Reflections’ Religions for Peace Europe (Rovereto: 2008)
• ‘Anglican Communion Covenant’ Church of England General Synod (London: 2008)
• ‘Multi-religious Cooperation: Transforming conflict from a source of violence to a resource for peace’ Journal for Faith, Spirituality, and Social Change Vol. 1:2 (University of Winchester: 2008)
• Faith-Based Organizations Roundtable on Multi-religious Cooperation for Humanitarian Relief, Development and Peace. Editor, Religions for Peace International (London: 2007)
• ‘To Crack the Silence: An inter-faith response to 7/7’ 7/7 and Beyond: A South Asian response to the London Bombings Conference, South Asian Concern (London: 2007)
• ‘Respect for Diversity: A peace of gold®’ Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (UK), (Leeds: 2007)
• ‘Interfaith Cooperation: Changing Conflict from a Source of Violence to a Resource for Peace’, Influencing Social Change: The Role of Faith, European Council of Religious Leaders (Birmingham: 2007)
• ‘International European Multi-religious Partnerships’, Religions for Peace Europe (Rome: 2007)
• ‘Introduction to Interfaith’, A Global Guide to Interfaith: Reflections from around the world, Edited by Sandy and Jael Bharat (O Books Ropley: 2007)