Center on Religion and Culture

Ethan Hawke speaks with two panelists

At a time when religion’s role in American life is both praised and contested, Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture (CRC) explores the complex relationship between faith and contemporary life.

Through public events and conversations with experts and artists, scholars and faith leaders, the CRC seeks to engage and elevate the public dialogue about religion and culture, the mind and the soul, inclusion and identity, politics, and the arts.

The CRC is looking forward to hosting a new slate of in-person and online events in the coming 2025-2026 academic year.

  • Blair Braverman: author, adventurer, influencer … and Jewish dogsledder!

    October 9, 2025 | 6 – 7 p.m.
    Fordham University at Lincoln Center | McNally Amphitheater
    140 West 62nd Street | New York, NY 10023

    Come hear Blair Braverman, one of the most remarkable young women you will ever meet. Braverman has completed some of the toughest sled dog races in the world, including the grueling Iditarod.

    Learn more about Blair

    REGISTER

Stay tuned for details on the CRC’s growing schedule of programs and follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter) for updates. You can also join our email list to receive CRC news and event invitations.

In the meantime, you can check out our YouTube channel for curated videos of our past events, or read about them on our Events Page.

News and Updates

‘A Heart for the Poor’: Pope Leo XIV Welcomed with Hope and Joy by Fordham

‘A Heart for the Poor’: Pope Leo XIV Welcomed with Hope and Joy by Fordham

Catholics around the world watched with excitement as newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, appeared on the balcony above St. Peter’s Square to deliver …

Fordham Mourns Death of Pope Francis, Reflects on Influence of First Jesuit Pope

Fordham Mourns Death of Pope Francis, Reflects on Influence of First Jesuit Pope

The death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, mourned around the world with paeans to the humble Argentinian widely praised for renewing the Catholic Church’s commitment to justice and serving …

CBC News: Fordham Vatican Expert Says Catholics Worldwide are ‘Praying for Best and Preparing for Worst’

CBC News: Fordham Vatican Expert Says Catholics Worldwide are ‘Praying for Best and Preparing for Worst’

David Gibson, director of Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture, is closely following the news regarding the health of Pope Francis, who remains hospitalized with pneumonia. Listen to his full …

NYC’s Green Spaces: Living Memorials to Generations of New Yorkers

NYC’s Green Spaces: Living Memorials to Generations of New Yorkers

In a city like New York, green spaces and public parks are seen as places to disconnect from the fast pace of urban life. But many of them also have …

Why Are Fewer Men Becoming Priests?

Why Are Fewer Men Becoming Priests?

In 1965, there were an estimated 60,000 Catholic priests living in the United States. By 2022, that number had dropped to around 35,000, even as the country’s population had grown …

The Associated Press: As Francis turns 87, David Gibson Weighs Pontiff’s Efforts to Reform the Church

The Associated Press: As Francis turns 87, David Gibson Weighs Pontiff’s Efforts to Reform the Church

The director of Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture said in this AP article that the pope’s recent hospitalizations have raised questions about his ability to continue the globetrotting rigors …

Ethan Hawke Discusses Flannery O’Connor Biopic with Fordham Scholars

Ethan Hawke Discusses Flannery O’Connor Biopic with Fordham Scholars

Actor and director Ethan Hawke joined Fordham’s Angela O’Donnell and David Gibson at a May 3 private screening of Wildcat, a movie about Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor directed by Hawke …

Hot Off the Press: ‘Disorderly Men’ and H. P. Lovecraft’s ‘Midnight Rambles’

Hot Off the Press: ‘Disorderly Men’ and H. P. Lovecraft’s ‘Midnight Rambles’

A selection of recent titles from Fordham University Press Disorderly Men: A Novel In Disorderly Men, Fordham English professor Edward Cahill evokes New York City in the mid-20th century, several …

Fordham at the Met Opera: ‘Coursework Come to Life’

Fordham at the Met Opera: ‘Coursework Come to Life’

This year, more than 500 Fordham students, faculty, alumni, and staff attended performances at the world-famous Metropolitan Opera—located one block away from the University’s Lincoln Center campus—at no cost to …

Eleven Fordham Students Head to Rome for Pope’s Synod on Synodality

Eleven Fordham Students Head to Rome for Pope’s Synod on Synodality

Ten Fordham undergraduates and one graduate student arrived in Rome on Saturday to observe Pope Francis’ historic Synod on Synodality and participate in related events. The gathering was convened by …

Pope Decries Climate Deniers, Says World May Be Near Breaking Point

Pope Decries Climate Deniers, Says World May Be Near Breaking Point

Fordham experts weigh in on Laudate Deum, a new apostolic exhortation on climate change. Increasing extreme weather conditions like record-high temperatures and devastating droughts are undoubtedly the result of “unchecked …