USC Dornsife News

Controversy of veils goes back more than a century, a USC Dornsife scholar of Iran explains the history and current circumstances behind the recent protests.

Students learn how substances like peyote, cannabis and coffee have been used in religious practices around the world — and why the context of their usage matters.

The excavation, led by USC Dornsife scholars, yielded clues about the lives of ancient Roman soldiers stationed outside the fabled city in the Province of Judea.

Many religions have been used to prop up nationalism, and Catholicism is no exception. A USC Dornsife scholar who is also a Jesuit priest explores how the Virgin Mary had been enlisted to stir up patriotic fervor.

From the communal baths of ancient Rome to the Great Stink of London and the fortuitously named Victorian sanitary engineer Thomas Crapper, we explore the strangely fascinating history of plumbing through the ages.

The Easter Bunny typically evokes memories of fun and colorfully painted eggs, but this mythical rabbit has prehistoric origins and is a longstanding cultural symbol that keeps returning each spring.

The Jesuits are among the Catholic Church’s most influential religious orders but no strangers to controversy. So who are the Jesuits? And what makes them distinctive? [5¼ min read]

The Irish government recently declared a national holiday for another patron saint of Ireland, St. Brigid. A USC Dornsife scholar and medieval historian explains her fascinating life and history. [6 min read]

USC’s Trojan Family Magazine features Najuma Smith-Pollard of USC Dornsife’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture and her community advocacy work. [1½ min read]