AnnouncementRichard Flory Named Executive Director of CRCCRichard Flory has been appointed as the executive director of the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture by Amber Miller, dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. …Topics:
AnnouncementKALW’s The Spiritual Edge Launches Podcast with Stories of Reality and HopeKALW’s The Spiritual Edge announces the launch of a new podcast, with stories of our collective reality, injected with a dash of hope. The first season of The Spiritual Edge podcast brings …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Spiritual Exemplars
ReportHealing Heartwork ToolkitDeepening our understanding of Islamic tools for healing, self-care, and community care In response to the emerging needs of AMCLI fellows, AMCLI launched a new series called “Healing Heartwork” this Ramadan 2021 …Topics: AMCLI, American Muslims, Muslims and Islam
FeaturedEngaged SpiritualityTopics: AMCLI, American Muslims, Muslims and Islam- VideoWitness as Ministry: Serving God and Refugees in Beirut
CommentaryWhy the Black Church Should Support Asian Lives MatterThe below post was originally published by The Christian Recorder and The LA Sentinel. The Rev. Mark Whitlock wrote it with Hyepin Im, CEO of FACE and an alum of the USC …Topics: Black Church, Race and Culture, Violence
CommentaryBuilding on the Past, With an Eye to the Future – A Reflection from CRCC’s New Executive DirectorRichard Flory shared the following reflection upon the announcement of his appointment as CRCC’s executive director, effective July 1, 2021. Thank you all for the notes of congratulations and kind words of …Topics:
CRCC in the NewsThe Special Report: Smith-Pollard looks back on Rodney King BeatingThe Special Report with Areva Martin hosted Najuma Smith-Pollard for a conversation on the impact of the Rodney King beating on Los Angeles and the country 30 years later, along with Lora …Topics: CMCCE,
ArticleJean Bouchebel: Retired From World Vision, but Not From Serving God and RefugeesThis article was originally published by Christianity Today, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. When Jean Bouchebel retired at age 70, he was not ready to simply relax. …Topics: Christianity, Disaster Response, Engaged Spirituality, Evangelicals and Evangelicalism, Middle East and North Africa, Spiritual Exemplars
ArticleJournal of Global Buddhism: Special Issue on Buddhism and ResilienceNalika Gajaweera co-edited a special issue of the Journal of Global Buddhism on Buddhism and Resilience with Darcie DeAngelo. Below is an excerpt of their introduction along with a list of articles …Topics: Buddhists and Buddhism, Creativity and Innovation, Race and Culture, TAS
CommentaryThe End (of Lockdown) is Near: Opening Houses of Worship in a Time of UncertaintyI had just announced our church’s plans to resume in-person worship when someone called and told me they had contracted COVID-19. Immediately, I second-guessed the decision to reopen our worship building for …Topics: COVID, Healthcare, Religious Leadership, Thriving Congregations
ArticleKushil Gunasekera: ‘The More You Give, the More Will Be Yours to Give’This article was originally published by The Arrow Journal, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. “I want to be one of the nicest human beings that this earth …Topics: Asia, Buddhists and Buddhism, Disaster Response, Engaged Spirituality, Spiritual Exemplars
“It is reasonably easy to be an armchair critic of religion. There are ample examples of religious leaders who compromise the values of their tradition, and the fundamentalists of every religion are inevitably out of step with the latest findings of modern science.
“But the storyline about religion gets more complicated when one examines religious people in the trenches, serving the poor and disenfranchised of their societies.”
– Donald E. Miller
A Pragmatist’s View of Religion
Experts
The CRCC can connect you with one of our many expert religious researchers and writers, contact us and we’ll help you find the right person for your subject.
Mark WhitlockContributing WriterRev. Mark Whitlock is a pastor specializing in church leadership and community and economic development.
Cecil L. MurrayUniversity FellowRev. Cecil Murray works to ensure that the legacy of African American Church leaders pass on their years of experience to the next generation.
Brie LoskotaContributing FellowBrie Loskota researches how religions change and make change in the world, and works to build the capacity of religious communities around the globe.
Donald E. MillerDirector of Strategic InitiativesDonald Miller focuses on global religious trends, genocides of the 20th century, and the role of religious NGOs in addressing issues of moral concern.
Richard FloryExecutive DirectorRichard Flory is a sociologist whose work focuses on religion and urban life, religious and cultural change, and youth and young adults.
Nalika GajaweeraResearch AssociateNalika Gajaweera is a cultural anthropologist specialized in Buddhism, transnationalism and ethics, with an area expertise in South Asia.
Juan MartínezPast FellowJuan Martinez studies the history of Latino Protestantism, Latino Protestant identity and transnational mission among U.S. Latinos.
Najuma Smith-PollardProgram Manager of the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community EngagementRev. Najuma Smith-Pollard combines her experience as a pastor and expertise as a community leader to train Murray Center Fellows.
Nick StreetSenior WriterNick Street is a journalist covering religious change and innovation, Buddhism, Pentecostalism and LGBT issues.