Schedule of Events

The America Shusse Inari Shrine, located in Culver City, CA, is the last surviving Shinto Shrine in North America. This shrine is accredited by The Association of Shinto Shrines (神社本庁, Jinja Honcho), as opposed to the other accrediting organization, the Association of Shinto Sects (教派神道連合会, Kyoha Shinto Rengokai). This research lays out the precarious relationship between the growing online community surrounding, benefitting from, and supporting the America Shusse Inari and the socially conservative structures that have authorized the shrine. The disconnects that arise between the online shrine community and the establishing institutions in Japan are cultural, social and political. By exploring these points of transgression, this research leads to examination of a potential third path for Shinto.

This presentation examines the contemporary decline in church attendance, particularly within Generation Z, through the lens of the Stone-Campbell Movement. The CES Report 2022 reveals that 48% of Gen Z participants do not identify with any religion, suggesting a future trajectory where religious affiliation may continue to diminish. This presentation examines the Stone-Campbell Movement, exploring its historical and theological origins as a case study to critique current ecclesiastical inadequacies and propose a reinvigorated church model that resonates with the current and forthcoming generations. This presentation will examine the discrepancy between the needs of a post-modern church community and the outdated systems in place to address these needs, offering a reimagined vision for the Stone-Campbell Churches, seeking to contextualize faith in contemporary terms. The presentation advocates for a responsive and adaptable church that meets society's evolving spiritual needs by integrating scripture alongside tradition to create a Missional church guided by the Spirit.

Repatriation movements have a long history in the United States and are essential to ensuring the protection of culture. Native communities in particular are often caught in battles to reclaim their ancestral lands, artifacts, and practices. Museums are a central avenue for facilitating the conversation and execution of this practice; however, they can also find themselves complicit in perpetuating violence against Indigenous peoples as it connects to these issues. In this presentation, I will be exploring the necessity of ethical museum practices and what has historically resulted from abiding by or rejecting them. In an effort to create concrete progress towards ensuring a positive relationship between educational institutions, like museums, and those they interact with, I am undertaking research intended to push the bounds of what has defined repatriation in these past situations. Using the current abalone crisis present in the California Coast and its impact on the Chumash tribe, I will inquire if religious food traditions and resources should be considered as qualifying to be repatriated to their original cultures; and under what factors (i.e. resource scarcity, profit, origin, etc.) might this conversation sway in one direction or the other. The results can then be used to assist in creating institutional frameworks that ensure the return of a cultural resource that has not previously been considered for such action, contributing to the disruption of this cycle of violence. 

I chose this project after realizing I knew nothing about Vodou/Voodoo besides what I had seen in True Detective and Disney’s Princess and the Frog. I felt that my negative and misconstrued conceptions were rooted in caricature and prejudice, so I wanted to educate myself. My goal is to explain some of the history and differences between Voodoo and Vodou through analyzing the art and foodways that are part of these religious practices. My methodology is all grounded in a lived/living religions approach which attempts to understand religion through everyday acts and practices. Here I focus on art and food as embodied ways to develop a more nuanced understanding of the development of Vodou and Voodoo. These Creole religions are still being practiced today and I hope this research will educate as well as dispel some of the common, misleading characterizations of these rich traditions.

The CLU SEEd Garden is a place where community building between the natural world and CLU students is growing. Connections of reciprocity are present and benefit both the natural world and the students. To further strengthen this community building and reciprocity, this research first explores three concepts advanced in prior studies of the SEEd Garden: wellness, awe, and engagement. Next, this research suggests programmatic ways to integrate wellness, awe, and engagement into the fabric of the CLU student community. Such programs include increased classes held in the SEEd Garden, curated volunteer opportunities, introduction of a garden zine, and commitment to assessment through longitudinal surveys. 

After the landmark Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overruled Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, restricting abortion rights in many states, the issue of church-state separation and the influence of conservative Christian ideology in government has once again been brought to the forefront of political conversation. The Establishment Clause states that the federal government cannot declare an official state religion, nor can it pass laws which aim to impose certain religious beliefs and practices. Citing the Establishment Clause, pro-choice advocates have argued that Dobbs v. Jackson is unconstitutional because it favors conservative Christian morality. This paper follows the progression of abortion politics in the 20th and 21st centuries and how pro-life advocates have justified their arguments. Analysis of legal documents, writings of Christian leaders, and scholarly articles reveal that, while the Christian Right has increasingly utilized secular language in their advocacy, their agenda is still fundamentally driven by the desire to perpetuate their religious values. Thus, the passing of Dobbs v. Jackson sets a dangerous precedent for the allowance of Christian influence in legislation.