The McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics & Public Life is a research institute in the University of Oxford, which is associated with the Faculty of Theology. Its director is Nigel Biggar,[1] Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology. The current McDonald Fellow for Christian Ethics & Public Life is John Perry.

In 2017, the McDonald Centre attracted controversy after receiving funding from Oxford University for its project Ethics and Empire,[2][3] which Director Nigel Biggar said aimed to "pay careful attention to the historical variety of things that empire can be, and work out a more sophisticated way of evaluating them morally.” In response, more than 170 scholars of imperialism signed a joint letter condemning Oxford University's support for the project. The signatories stated that “We are not surprised that such an approach should be recuperated by Prof Biggar – a long-time apologist for colonialism – but we are alarmed that the University of Oxford should invest resources in this project.”[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Nigel Biggar | McDonald Centre". www.mcdonaldcentre.org.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  2. ^ O'Halloran, Erin. "Ethics and empire: an open letter from Oxford scholars". The Conversation. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Oxford scholars oppose empire project". BBC News. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  4. ^ Adams, Richard (22 December 2017). "Oxford University accused of backing apologists of British colonialism". the Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
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