Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 from 5:30-7:00PM  

Location: The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary 

Series: The Shifting Paradigms of American Religion

Speakers: Christopher Crawford (Interfaith America), Joseph L. Tucker Edmonds (Indiana University, Indianapolis), Kayla Renée Wheeler (Xavier University)

Moderator: Justine Ellis  (Columbia University) 

Our national conversation remains divided: does religion advance civic causes and community based action or serve as a source of social difference and potential disruption? But the idea that religion either helps or hurts our civic life doesn’t capture the full picture. How can we push past hero-villain narratives to consider the ways religious forms and communities shape and share knowledge. Join IRCPL for a conversation with scholars and policymakers as we think together about the positives and the perils of viewing religion as a resource.

Light refreshments will be provided

This series is made possible by generous support from the Henry Luce Foundation

Free and open to the public

Registration is required—Please register in advance to reserve your spot

All prospective attendees must register by 11:59PM on Monday, April 20. Registration will close at that time.

Columbia University makes every effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. If you require disability accommodations to attend an event at Columbia University, please contact Disability Services (disability@columbia.edu or 212-854-2388) at least 10 days in advance of the event. Requests for CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) or sign language interpretation require two weeks' notice.