USC Dornsife College Of Letters Arts and Sciences

University of Southern California

Archive

Archive

Remembering Nick Street: CRCC’s Storyteller

There’s a spider alive because of Nick Shindo Street.  Nick, a Buddhist, had convinced his colleague Najuma Smith, a Christian minister, that spiders were God’s creation and deserved to live. So when …

The Moral Power of Stories: How Exemplars Help Us Find Meaning and Purpose

What has more emotional salience, an abstract moral principle such as love or justice or a good story of someone whose life commitments exemplify these values? Shortly after I finished my Ph.D. …

Spiritual Exemplars Around the World

The spiritual exemplars map brings together 104 stories of people working to advance human flourishing in different parts of the world. Each point on the map represents one of the humanitarians featured …

Unveiling the Heart of 100 Humanitarians

The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture worked with dozens of journalists to profile more than 100 individuals whose spiritual beliefs and practices fuel their humanitarian work. Journalists share their experience …

We Need Heroes: Countering Cultural Despair with an Exhibit of Exemplars

There is a great boom in psychotherapy these days. Especially among a younger generation, people are lonely, anxious about the environment, insecure financially—fearful they will not achieve the same standard as their …

Imam Muhsin Hendricks: Promoting an Inclusive Islam for LGBTQ+ Muslims

Imam Muhsin Hendricks is one of the world’s first openly queer Muslim prayer leaders. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Hendricks heads the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, an international organization that helps LGBTQ+ Muslims …

After Thay: Plum Village Reckons With the Loss of Its Founder

This article was originally published on Tricycle with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality.  Monastics in long brown robes entered the hall for formal lunch in order of seniority, the longest ordained …

In Action

“Stories of Social Change: Spirituality in Action” is a multimedia exhibit at USC Annenberg. Listen to music by people featured in the exhibit while touring the exhibit or at home. Apple Music …

Exemplars

The portraits displayed in the banners capture some of the 104 “Spiritual Exemplars” profiled by a team of journalists and researchers. You can explore their stories in this map. Map application developed …

Stories of Social Change: Spirituality in Action

A multimedia exhibit   A global team of journalists and researchers at the University of Southern California produced more than 100 stories about people dedicated to working for positive social change as …

Spirituality

“Stories of Social Change: Spirituality in Action” is a multimedia exhibit at USC Annenberg. Listen to music by people featured in the exhibit while touring the exhibit or at home. Apple Music …

Watch “Build Your Wealth” Sessions

Watch the below sessions to learn more wealth-building skills and about resources for wealth-building ministries. Elevate Your Financial Future with George B. Thompson (April 17, 2024) George B. Thompson, a financial coach …

Sonia Tinoco García: Responding to Muslim Asylum Seekers at the US-Mexico Border

This article was originally published on New Lines Magazine, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality.  It’s late afternoon in Tijuana, and the air is hot and thick. Hamza — …

Marguerite Brankitse: Forgiveness Is Key to Overcoming Genocide

This article was originally published on National Catholic Reporter, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality.  This year marks 30 years since violence exploded between Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups …

Andreas Kornevall: Swedish Ecologist Revives Old Norse Myths and Rituals to Tackle Environmental Crises

This article was originally published on Religion Unplugged with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality.  BRIGHTON, England — According to Norse mythology, the world is an immense tree. Known as Yggdrasil, this …

CapRadio: Najuma Smith on Solidarity within Black and Asian American Communities

What does racial solidarity look like among communities of color? CRCC’s Rev. Najuma Smith was interviewed on CapRadio’s Mid Pacific about the complex relationship the Black community has with the Asian American …

John Orr: Religion professor’s long career at USC helped launch some of the university’s most distinctive programs

Professor Emeritus of Religion John Orr was a continuous presence on the USC campus for nearly 30 years. He helped usher in a number of programs that define the university’s commitment to …

Wall Street Journal: Richard Flory on Jesus in American Culture

The “He Gets Us” ad campaign has caused debate about its portrayal of Jesus, but Jesus always has had many faces in American culture. The Wall Street Journal describes how various Christian …

Mai Nguyen: A Grain Farmer Applies Buddhist Principles to Preserve the Land — and Maximize Taste

This article was originally published on Religion News Service, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality.  The first time Mai Nguyen tried bread made with hard Red Fife wheat, it …

Donald E. Miller: ‘Spiritual exemplars’ change the media narrative about religion

This article was originally published on Religion News Service, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. Media stories about religion often focus on corruption in religious institutions, politicians’ alliances with conservative Christians and …