Religion, however one defines it, has, since the dawn of creation, whether consciously or otherwise, been a vital cog in providing meaning to life for humanity. Much research has been attempted to study religion within different scientific fields such as history, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, psychology, economics, and so forth. Expanding from these scientific approaches to studying religion, the approach then began to phenomena such as secularisation, medical science (physical health, mental health, neurotheology, etc.), law (freedom of religion, Sharia, etc.), politics and ethics (just war theories, social life actions). Some of the later developments began to include interreligious and intercultural dialogues, which sought to find answers for better harmonious societal cohesive coexistence between adherents to religious beliefs and culture.

The Oxford (UP) Centre for Religion, Public Life and Security in Africa (OCRPSA) is a significant role player to support and advance academic research and to contribute to knowledge about the impact of religion in all areas of society, particularly public life and security, and to train leaders to engage with public life issues from a theological perspective. Although the main focus of the Centre is vested in research on and within the context of Africa, the involvement of the global society and how it influences the continent of Africa is included.

The Centre aims to accomplish its objectives through events held throughout each year. Such events include Inter-Religious Week which consists of dialogue spaces and events hosted over a week that aim to create learning spaces and a community where students and attendees can share their cultures and religions while learning from our diverse society. Click on this link for a full overview of Inter-Religious Week 2024. During the year 2024 the Centre also hosted a colloquium convened with the Africa Office, Harvard University Centre for African Studies titled 'Religion: shaping Colonialism and Decolonialism in Africa'. The intersection of religion, colonialism, and decolonialism in Africa presents a complex and multifaceted terrain of inquiry. This colloquium aimed to explore the historical, social, cultural, and political dimensions of how religion has functioned both as a tool for shaping colonial structures and as a site for resistance and decolonisation efforts on the African continent. Through panel discussions and paper presentations, participants investigated how religious beliefs, practices, institutions, and discourses intersected with colonial power dynamics and processes of decolonization across different regions and historical periods in Africa. Click on this link for a full review of Religion: Shaping colonialism and decolonialism in Africa.