Depending on your point of view, religion is the source of values like compassion and social justice that are essential to the harmonious co-existence of diverse groups in any given society. Or it provides the rationalization for intolerance and injustice toward the “other,” which is the root of conflict and suffering. Reality, of course, is much more complicated than either perspective.
In any case, religious beliefs—and beliefs about religion—inevitably shape social values and political power, in both the secular societies of the global North and the deeply religious cultures of the global South. Explore the relationship between religion and a variety of social and political issues, from economic inequality to immigration.
Photo Credit: Franco Folini
ArticleJean Gakwandi: Rwanda Ministry Brings Genocide Survivors HopeThis article was originally published in Christianity Today, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. It was raining ferociously, causing the women and orphans to move away from the …Topics: Christians and Christianity, Engaged Spirituality, Genocide, Spiritual Exemplars, Sub-Saharan Africa, Violence
ArticleDr. Mohammed Elgazzar: Saving Lives Across the Battle LinesThis article was originally published in Religion Unplugged, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — the city of learned philosophers and a once-great library, named after …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Healthcare, Middle East and North Africa, Muslims and Islam, Spiritual Exemplars, Violence
ArticleThe Moroccan School Training Women Imams To Combat ExtremismThis article was originally published in Religion Unplugged, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. It supplements Priyadarshini Sen’s profile of Ahmed Toufiq. RABAT, Morocco — Wearing an embroidered …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Gender, Middle East and North Africa, Muslims and Islam, Religious Leadership, Spiritual Exemplars, Sub-Saharan Africa
ArticleImam Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye: From Enemies to Friends Building PeaceThis article was originally published in Ripples Nigeria, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. Of its 60 years of existence as an independent state, Africa’s most populous country, …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Interfaith/Multifaith Movements, International Affairs and Policy, Religious Extremism, Religious Leadership, Spiritual Exemplars, Sub-Saharan Africa, Violence
CRCC in the NewsUSC Institute of Armenian Studies: Unpacking Armenian Studies with Dr. Donald MillerCRCC’s Donald E. Miller appeared on New Roads, a podcast by the Institute for Armenian Studies at USC. He talks about the oral histories of Rwandan and Armenian genocide survivors, as well …Topics: Genocide, Violence
ArticleImam Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye: Bringing Peace to Warring Nigerian CommunitiesThis article was originally published in Premium Times, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. For the greater part of May 2, 2004, 40-year-old Amina Abubakar endured nine-month-old pregnancy …Topics: Christians and Christianity, Engaged Spirituality, Interfaith/Multifaith Movements, Muslims and Islam, Religious Extremism, Religious Leadership, Spiritual Exemplars, Sub-Saharan Africa, Violence
CRCC in the NewsVOA News: Rwandan, Armenian Genocides Remembered in AprilApril 7 marks the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide. To mark the day, Voice of America featured Donald and Lorna Miller’s new book, Becoming Human Again: An …Topics: Genocide, Violence
ArticleJacques Mourad: The Syrian Catholic Priest Who StayedThis article was originally published as the cover story of the March 2, 2020 issue of America Magazine, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. It became clear that …Topics: Catholics and Catholicism, Christians and Christianity, Engaged Spirituality, Middle East and North Africa, Religious Extremism, Religious Leadership, Religious Minorities, Spiritual Exemplars, Violence
AudioDean Issacharoff: A Former Israeli Soldier Questions His Country and FaithThis radio documentary was produced by KALW’s The Spiritual Edge, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. Listen to it on The Spiritual Edge website. Dean Issacharoff wears …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Jews and Judaism, Middle East and North Africa, National and Cultural Identity, Spiritual Exemplars, Violence
ArticleAhmed Toufiq: The Quiet Sufi Behinds Morocco’s Islamic AffairsThis article was originally published in Religion Unplugged, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. In the cavernous dining room of an artist-friend, Ahmed Toufiq quickly eats a fresh …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Government and Religion, International Affairs and Policy, Middle East and North Africa, Muslims and Islam, Religious Extremism, Spiritual Exemplars
CommentaryCan Religion Help Survivors Regain Their Humanity? A Reflection on the Rwandan GenocideThe following article originally appear in Tui Motu InterIslands Magazine, a New Zealand publication. One of the first survivors that I interviewed in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide told me that his …Topics: Christians and Christianity, Engaged Spirituality, Faith-Based Organizations, Genocide, Religious Leadership, Sub-Saharan Africa, Violence
CommentarySecuring Faith Communities in the Era of Mass Shootings – Keynote AddressBrie Loskota was the keynote speaker at the Faith Communities Security Summit, hosted by Biola University on March 3, 2020. Loskota is a board member of the LA Emergency Preparedness Foundation, one …Topics: Disaster Response, Violence
“It is, finally, not the external forms of religion that matter so much; they are cultural products, vessels (potential conduits) of the holy, not to be confused with the divine (which would be idolatry). What is important is the quality of life that results from one’s concourse with the God beyond gods.”
—Donald E. Miller
“The Future of Liberal Christianity”
CRCC Experts
To schedule an interview with one of our experts, please contact CRCC:
crcc@usc.edu or 213-743-1611
Sumaya AbubakerProject ManagerSumaya Abubaker manages leadership and civic engagement programming for minority faith communities.
Brad ChristersonContributing FellowBrad Christenson is a sociologist who has written extensively in the areas of religion, race, ethnicity, and globalization.
Hebah FarragAssistant Director of ResearchHebah Farrag manages the center’s research and evaluation projects while engaging in research focused on religion, social change and new spiritualties.
Richard FlorySenior Director of Research and EvaluationRichard Flory is a sociologist whose work focuses on religion and urban life, religious and cultural change, and youth and young adults.
Rev. Frank Jackson, Jr.Contributing FellowRev. Frank Jackson, Jr. couples his experience in business and investment with his passion for community development.
Andrew JohnsonPast FellowAndrew Johnson is a sociologist who studies religion on the margins of society, with specific interests in religious practice inside of prison, Latin American Pentecostalism and religion in the city.
Brie LoskotaExecutive DirectorBrie Loskota researches how religions change and make change in the world, and works to build the capacity of religious communities around the globe.
Juan MartínezPast FellowJuan Martinez studies the history of Latino Protestantism, Latino Protestant identity and transnational mission among U.S. Latinos.
Tarra McNallyAssistant Director of EvaluationTarra McNally is an anthropologist specializing in evaluation and global health.
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.
Jon MillerSenior Research AssociateJon Miller is a comparative sociologist and director of the international mission photography archive.
Arpi MillerContributing FellowArpi Miller is a sociologist who studies secular and faith-based immigrant advocacy and accompaniment.
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.
John B. OrrCo-founder & Past FellowJohn B. Orr has worked extensively in the fields of religion, education and politics.
Joe PalaciosContributing FellowJoe Palacios, a sociologist and Catholic priest, studies religion, politics and social justice in Latin America and among immigrants in the United States.