By Rev. Bud Heckman
Also published in The Interfaith Observer, March 15, 2018

One of the biggest religion stories of today is the rising number of Americans who no longer identify with a particular religion. That is a given. But disaffiliation is only one side of the story. There is a lot more to tell about what is happening with religiosity in our midst.

The current period of transitions also is characterized by both curious and religious people and congregations exploring spirituality and experimenting with new forms of religious expression.

How do we tell these stories? For communicators and journalists, today’s religious creativity represents opportunities for more complex and compelling narratives of meaning, purpose, and identity that will engage audiences.

On January 26, 2018, a cadre of partner organizations hosted a one day conference at the University of Southern California to explore these issues. Participants heard from Hollywood creatives, religion reporters, communications and journalism academics, regional activists and pioneers in emerging communities and innovative storytelling.