USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture
@usccrcc.bsky.social
The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture advances the understanding of religion and society, and supports faith and community leaders in becoming full partners in the work of positive social change.
https://crcc.usc.edu/
https://crcc.usc.edu/
CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.
Trend #4: Pressure continues on faith leaders to take a stand on the issues of the day. We expect “compelling preaching” in pulpits and the public square.
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Trend #4: Pressure continues on faith leaders to take a stand on the issues of the day. We expect “compelling preaching” in pulpits and the public square.
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
January 27, 2026 at 6:31 PM
CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.
Trend #4: Pressure continues on faith leaders to take a stand on the issues of the day. We expect “compelling preaching” in pulpits and the public square.
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Trend #4: Pressure continues on faith leaders to take a stand on the issues of the day. We expect “compelling preaching” in pulpits and the public square.
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Want to better understand what's going on in Minnesota with immigration raids and protests? Tune into this webinar from @rns.org tomorrow at 9 am Pacific for perspective from a reporter on the ground and faith leaders.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: On the Ground in Minneapolis: The Faith Response. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Events are unfolding quickly in Minneapolis-St. Paul as we enter the fourth week of mass protests in the Twin Cities against the federal ICE immigration raids. We hear the latest from RNS’ Jack Jenkin...
us02web.zoom.us
January 26, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Want to better understand what's going on in Minnesota with immigration raids and protests? Tune into this webinar from @rns.org tomorrow at 9 am Pacific for perspective from a reporter on the ground and faith leaders.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.
Trend #3: Christianity continues to assert its power, thanks in large part to its institutions. A new force challenging institutional power: social media.
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Trend #3: Christianity continues to assert its power, thanks in large part to its institutions. A new force challenging institutional power: social media.
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
January 23, 2026 at 7:50 PM
CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.
Trend #3: Christianity continues to assert its power, thanks in large part to its institutions. A new force challenging institutional power: social media.
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Trend #3: Christianity continues to assert its power, thanks in large part to its institutions. A new force challenging institutional power: social media.
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Tuesday Febe Armanios will be presenting her monograph Satellite Ministries, exploring how modern expressions of faith, technology, and political power intersected and clashed across the Global South through the analysis of Christian TV shows in the Middle East.
humanities.ucla.edu/event/satell...
humanities.ucla.edu/event/satell...
Satellite Ministries: The Rise of Christian Television in the Middle East - UCLA Humanities
In this book talk, Febe Armanios (Middlebury College) will present on her recently-published monograph Satellite Ministries, which explores how modern expressions of faith, technology, and political p...
humanities.ucla.edu
January 22, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Tuesday Febe Armanios will be presenting her monograph Satellite Ministries, exploring how modern expressions of faith, technology, and political power intersected and clashed across the Global South through the analysis of Christian TV shows in the Middle East.
humanities.ucla.edu/event/satell...
humanities.ucla.edu/event/satell...
CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.
Trend #2: Religion has cultural capital right now. “God is SO Back." What does that mean for politics on the left and right?
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Trend #2: Religion has cultural capital right now. “God is SO Back." What does that mean for politics on the left and right?
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
January 21, 2026 at 3:45 PM
CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.
Trend #2: Religion has cultural capital right now. “God is SO Back." What does that mean for politics on the left and right?
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Trend #2: Religion has cultural capital right now. “God is SO Back." What does that mean for politics on the left and right?
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.
Trend #1: For a decade the enduring narrative of religion in America has been the “rise of the nones.” In 2025, a new narrative emerged claiming a “religious revival.”
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Trend #1: For a decade the enduring narrative of religion in America has been the “rise of the nones.” In 2025, a new narrative emerged claiming a “religious revival.”
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
January 21, 2026 at 2:17 AM
CRCC's 2026 trends look at the contradictions in our observations today and over the last decade.
Trend #1: For a decade the enduring narrative of religion in America has been the “rise of the nones.” In 2025, a new narrative emerged claiming a “religious revival.”
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
Trend #1: For a decade the enduring narrative of religion in America has been the “rise of the nones.” In 2025, a new narrative emerged claiming a “religious revival.”
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
CRCC is excited to co-sponsor a discussion of Jessica X. Zu's new book, Just Awakening: Yogācāra Social Philosophy in Modern China.
Fri, Feb 6th 1-2pm on Zoom - registration required: calendar.usc.edu/event/levan-...
Fri, Feb 6th 1-2pm on Zoom - registration required: calendar.usc.edu/event/levan-...
Levan Book Chat—Jessica X. Zu, Just Awakening
calendar.usc.edu
January 16, 2026 at 5:08 PM
CRCC is excited to co-sponsor a discussion of Jessica X. Zu's new book, Just Awakening: Yogācāra Social Philosophy in Modern China.
Fri, Feb 6th 1-2pm on Zoom - registration required: calendar.usc.edu/event/levan-...
Fri, Feb 6th 1-2pm on Zoom - registration required: calendar.usc.edu/event/levan-...
January 16, 2026 at 2:58 AM
The faith-based networks, which developed organizing infrastructure and relationships during the George Floyd era, are joined by newcomers as resistance efforts have intensified since Renee Good’s shooting.
religionnews.com/2026/01/11/i...
religionnews.com/2026/01/11/i...
In Minneapolis, George Floyd-era faith networks reignite after Renee Good's killing by ICE
MINNEAPOLIS (RNS) — The faith-based networks, which developed organizing infrastructure and relationships during the Floyd era, are joined by newcomers as resistance efforts have intensified since Goo...
religionnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:24 PM
The faith-based networks, which developed organizing infrastructure and relationships during the George Floyd era, are joined by newcomers as resistance efforts have intensified since Renee Good’s shooting.
religionnews.com/2026/01/11/i...
religionnews.com/2026/01/11/i...
We can't claim to know what will happen in the next week, let alone in the next year. But let's just see how it goes...
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
6 to 7 Trends to Watch in Religion and Society in 2026 - Center for Religion and Civic Culture
USC Dornsife Site
dornsife.usc.edu
January 14, 2026 at 11:18 PM
We can't claim to know what will happen in the next week, let alone in the next year. But let's just see how it goes...
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/6-to-7-...
New Year... New Website!
Glad to join USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences's web platform. Check us out:
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/
Glad to join USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences's web platform. Check us out:
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/
Home Page - Center for Religion and Civic Culture
USC Dornsife Site
dornsife.usc.edu
January 14, 2026 at 12:43 AM
New Year... New Website!
Glad to join USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences's web platform. Check us out:
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/
Glad to join USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences's web platform. Check us out:
dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/
One year after last year's LA fires, church buildings still lay burned, damaged, or leveled, gated off and covered in sawdust. Pastors reflect on how recovery of faith communities impacted by the Palisades and Eaton blazes is far from over.
www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/pali...
www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/pali...
A House of Worship Without a Home - Christianity Today
One year after the Palisades and Eaton fires, congregations meditate on what it means to be a church without a building.
www.christianitytoday.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:13 PM
One year after last year's LA fires, church buildings still lay burned, damaged, or leveled, gated off and covered in sawdust. Pastors reflect on how recovery of faith communities impacted by the Palisades and Eaton blazes is far from over.
www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/pali...
www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/pali...
A year after wildfires, we are grateful to partner with USC Equity Research Institute and come alongside impacted communities in Altadena and the Palisades, to understand how faith communities can contribute to a just recovery after disasters.
crcc.usc.edu/new-study-ex...
crcc.usc.edu/new-study-ex...
New Study Examines Faith and Organizing Networks After Los Angeles Wildfires
With a new project entitled “Faith Under Fire,” the Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC) and the Equity Research Institute (ERI) at USC are partnering to study the reconstruction of the Los An...
crcc.usc.edu
January 11, 2026 at 11:07 PM
A year after wildfires, we are grateful to partner with USC Equity Research Institute and come alongside impacted communities in Altadena and the Palisades, to understand how faith communities can contribute to a just recovery after disasters.
crcc.usc.edu/new-study-ex...
crcc.usc.edu/new-study-ex...
A year after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, we look back on the trends we saw in devopment in 2025. From solidarity with migrants to mutual aid, "we save us" applied beyond the fires.
crcc.usc.edu/we-save-us-2...
crcc.usc.edu/we-save-us-2...
“We Save Us” – 2025 Trends to Watch in Religion and Society
Multiple wildfires broke out across Los Angeles the day before our team was scheduled to discuss 2025 trends to watch in religion and society. Our leader canceled the meeting, while other team …
crcc.usc.edu
January 8, 2026 at 3:59 PM
A year after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, we look back on the trends we saw in devopment in 2025. From solidarity with migrants to mutual aid, "we save us" applied beyond the fires.
crcc.usc.edu/we-save-us-2...
crcc.usc.edu/we-save-us-2...
Today we look back to Rev. Grace H. Park's reflection from last January on pastoral care in times of great loss.
religionnews.com/2025/01/17/f...
religionnews.com/2025/01/17/f...
What can a pastor say to people who have lost everything?
(RNS) — After the fire, there are no words.
religionnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Today we look back to Rev. Grace H. Park's reflection from last January on pastoral care in times of great loss.
religionnews.com/2025/01/17/f...
religionnews.com/2025/01/17/f...
A year ago multiple wildfires forever changed landscapes and lives as they swept through LA and surrounding areas. By the time the flames were contained over 200,000 residents were forced to evacuate.
One year later, the Red Cross is still helping the community.
www.redcross.org/about-us/new...
One year later, the Red Cross is still helping the community.
www.redcross.org/about-us/new...
January 7, 2026 at 12:37 AM
A year ago multiple wildfires forever changed landscapes and lives as they swept through LA and surrounding areas. By the time the flames were contained over 200,000 residents were forced to evacuate.
One year later, the Red Cross is still helping the community.
www.redcross.org/about-us/new...
One year later, the Red Cross is still helping the community.
www.redcross.org/about-us/new...
A new research project by Dr. Ken Chitwood and Dr. Kholoud Al-Ajarma - "The Global Landscapes of Muslim Lives: Latin American and Caribbean Intersections" - examines Muslim life in regions that have been largely overlooked in global Islamic studies to date.
www.uni-bayreuth.de/en/press-rel...
www.uni-bayreuth.de/en/press-rel...
Bayreuth research on Muslim life in Latin America and the Caribbean receives funding
The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the British Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) are funding a new German-British research project by Dr. Ken Chitwood (University of Bayreuth) and Dr K...
www.uni-bayreuth.de
January 6, 2026 at 3:06 AM
A new research project by Dr. Ken Chitwood and Dr. Kholoud Al-Ajarma - "The Global Landscapes of Muslim Lives: Latin American and Caribbean Intersections" - examines Muslim life in regions that have been largely overlooked in global Islamic studies to date.
www.uni-bayreuth.de/en/press-rel...
www.uni-bayreuth.de/en/press-rel...
Did you know New Year’s Eve is also called St. Silvester’s Day? USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences explains how a 4th-century pope shaped church–state history.
#HappyNewYear
dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories...
#HappyNewYear
dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories...
New Year’s Eve celebrates St. Silvester
Historians may not know much about Silvester’s life, but the era in which he lived was pivotal for Christianity.
dornsife.usc.edu
January 1, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Did you know New Year’s Eve is also called St. Silvester’s Day? USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences explains how a 4th-century pope shaped church–state history.
#HappyNewYear
dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories...
#HappyNewYear
dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories...
“Empathy is not a soft substitute for holiness; it is the pulse of the Christian, and the Christmas, story.” Read this Op-Ed by Jonathan Hall, one of our compelling preaching program participants.
religionnews.com/2025/12/24/k...
religionnews.com/2025/12/24/k...
Keep Christ in Christmas? First, keep Christ in Christian
(RNS) — Empathy is not a soft substitute for holiness; it is the pulse of the Christian, and the Christmas, story.
religionnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
“Empathy is not a soft substitute for holiness; it is the pulse of the Christian, and the Christmas, story.” Read this Op-Ed by Jonathan Hall, one of our compelling preaching program participants.
religionnews.com/2025/12/24/k...
religionnews.com/2025/12/24/k...
Year in Review: We worked with faith leaders to elevate their moral voices. Read why one Christian leader joined No Kings protests this year.
religionunplugged.com/news/2025/6/...
religionunplugged.com/news/2025/6/...
'No Kings' Anti-Trump Protests: The Rise Of Religious Authoritarianism
(OPINION) As a historian of Christianity, I have studied how religion has been manipulated to bless empires. In the year 325, Constantine declared himself Christian and forged the Christian Empire. In...
religionunplugged.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Year in Review: We worked with faith leaders to elevate their moral voices. Read why one Christian leader joined No Kings protests this year.
religionunplugged.com/news/2025/6/...
religionunplugged.com/news/2025/6/...
Year in Review: We worked with faith leaders to elevate their moral voices. Read an op-ed on how to find meaning in your local community.
crcc.usc.edu/community-in...
crcc.usc.edu/community-in...
Community involvement a great way to overcome divisions
This commentary was originally published in the San Diego Union Tribune by a participant in the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture’s Compelling Preaching program. By Anastasia G. McAteer Regard...
crcc.usc.edu
December 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Year in Review: We worked with faith leaders to elevate their moral voices. Read an op-ed on how to find meaning in your local community.
crcc.usc.edu/community-in...
crcc.usc.edu/community-in...
Year in Review: This year CRCC worked with faith leaders to elevate their moral voices. Read an interfaith op-ed against the immigration raids:
crcc.usc.edu/were-still-f...
crcc.usc.edu/were-still-f...
We’re still fighting for migrants’ dignity in Los Angeles
This article was originally published on Religion News Service, by staff and participants in the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture’s Compelling Preaching program. By Susan Goldberg, Najuma Smi...
crcc.usc.edu
December 18, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Year in Review: This year CRCC worked with faith leaders to elevate their moral voices. Read an interfaith op-ed against the immigration raids:
crcc.usc.edu/were-still-f...
crcc.usc.edu/were-still-f...
Rest in Peace, Sister JoAnn Persch. After the death of Sister Pat Murphy a few months ago, the world has lost another ray of light in Sister JoAnn Persch.
chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...
chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...
Sister JoAnn Persch, longtime immigrant activist, dies at 91
Sister JoAnn Persch served with the Sisters of Mercy for 73 years. On Nov. 1, Sister JoAnn was among the delegation denied entry to the Broadview ICE facility when they attempted to bring Communion to...
chicago.suntimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Rest in Peace, Sister JoAnn Persch. After the death of Sister Pat Murphy a few months ago, the world has lost another ray of light in Sister JoAnn Persch.
chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...
chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...
#HappyHanukkah to our friends observing the festival of lights! 🕎
December 15, 2025 at 11:02 PM
#HappyHanukkah to our friends observing the festival of lights! 🕎
Year in Review: CRCC launched a coaching program for pastors in partnership with the Rosemead School of Psychology’s Mental Health and the Church Initiative to provide coaching to 100 pastors through the Flourishing in Ministry program.
crcc.usc.edu/flourishing-...
crcc.usc.edu/flourishing-...
Flourishing in Ministry Program Offers Coaching to SoCal Pastors
Pastoring a church can be fulfilling work — and it also can be demanding. Faith leaders often feel a divine call to accompany individuals on their spiritual and personal journeys. At the …
crcc.usc.edu
December 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Year in Review: CRCC launched a coaching program for pastors in partnership with the Rosemead School of Psychology’s Mental Health and the Church Initiative to provide coaching to 100 pastors through the Flourishing in Ministry program.
crcc.usc.edu/flourishing-...
crcc.usc.edu/flourishing-...