What it Means to be a Fearless Ally
This post is Brie Loskota’s acceptance speech for the El-Hibri Foundation’s “Fearless Ally” Award and was published by The Aspen Institute. I was born in the Philippines, I was raised as a …
Civic Engagement
Trump Will Always Be With Us – Rev. Cecil Murray on the Election
As soon as I entered my office on Wednesday morning, people started calling me. The callers are in shock, amazement, at what happened in the presidential race. I listen, and then I …
Dignity and Power Now: The Spirituality of Black Lives Matter
Dignity and Power Now (DPN), a grassroots organization in Los Angeles, works to end mass incarceration. Founded by Patrisse Cullors, an artist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, DPN uses …
Surprised American Evangelicals Voted for Trump? They Have a History of Racism
This post originally appeared on International Business Times. As a scholar of religion, one story that has intrigued me since the beginning of the 2016 presidential campaign is how Trump’s candidacy—now his …
Might, Right and White Privilege: It’s Morning in America, the Sequel
This post originally appeared on Religion Dispatches. Early this morning, when Donald Trump accepted the presidency of the United States, Ronald Reagan and Jerry Falwell were somewhere enjoying the last laugh. Their …
A Post-Election Prayer for Love, Families and Unity
The Rev. Najuma Smith-Pollard, program manager for the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, was part of a prayer service for hope and unity at the Cathedral of Our Lady of …
How are Religious Congregations Talking About the Election in 2016?
Each election season brings questions about the role of religion in politics and the separation of church and state. In 2016, the presidential campaign also has introduced questions about the importance of …
A Faith Leader Serves His Local Community at Church and on the City Council
Jawane Hilton is not only a pastor; he also serves on his city council. After participating in the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement’s programs for faith leaders, Hilton deepened his …
Being Prophetic from the Pulpit in a Strained Political Season
This post was also published by the Los Angeles Sentinel. I was not quite ready for the personal challenge posed by “The Birth of a Nation,” the new film by Nate Parker. …
How a New Generation Is Changing Evangelical Christianity
Since the late 1970s, American evangelicalism has been largely identified with right-wing politics. Conservative religious values entered the political sphere through movements such as Moral Majority and Focus on the Family that …