USC.edu

Richard Flory

Program Director
Email rflory@usc.edu Office ACB 439 Office Phone (213) 743-1606

Biography

Richard Flory (Ph.D., University of Chicago) is executive director of the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture. He is a sociologist whose research focuses on religious and cultural change, religion and urban life, and the religious and spiritual lives of youth and young adults. He has published several books, including most recently, Religion in Los Angeles: Religious Activism, Innovation, and Diversity in the Global City (Routledge, 2021) and Back Pocket God: Religion and Spirituality in the Lives of Emerging Adults (Oxford University Press, 2020).

Professor Flory has been awarded over $7.5m for research and evaluation projects while at USC. He is currently principal investigator for the “Reimagining Church: Developing Thriving Congregations” project, a $1m project funded by the Lilly Endowment. The initiative works with Los Angeles area congregations to develop their capacities and capabilities as they seek to be congregations that thrive, both internally serving the needs of their members, and externally, in serving their communities. His research has been supported by grants from the John Templeton Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Lilly Endowment, the John Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation, and the Louisville Institute.

Flory has written for publications such as Religion Dispatches, The Conversation, Patheos and Zócalo Public Square, and has been quoted by a variety of publications, including the L.A. Times, the New York Times, Buzzfeed News and NPR.

Education

  • Ph.D. Sociology, University of Chicago

  • Book

    • Flory, R., Winston, D. . (2021). Religion in Los Angeles: Religious Activism, Innovation, and Diversity in the Global City Routledge.
    • Flory, R., Denton, M. . (2020). Back Pocket God: Religion and Spirituality in Lives of Emerging Adults Oxford University Press.
    • Flory, R., Christerson, B. . (2017). The Rise of Network Christianity: How Independent Leaders are Changing the Religious Landscape Oxford University Press.
    • Flory, R., Miller, D., Sargeant, K. . (2013). Spirit and Power: The Growth and Global Impact of Pentecostalism Oxford University Press.
    • Flory, R., Christerson, B., Edwards, K. . (2010). Growing Up In America: The Power of Race in the Lives of Teens Stanford University Press.
    • Flory, R., Miller, D. . (2008). Finding Faith: The Spiritual Quest of the Post-Boomer Generation Rutgers University Press.
    • Flory, R. (2000). GenX Religion New York, NY: Routledge.

    Book Chapter

    • Flory, R. (2021). Redeeming the City: Los Angeles in the Social Imagination of an Urban Social Ministry Routledge.
    • Flory, R. (2014). Evangelicals and Human Trafficking: Rescuing, Rehabilitating, and Releasing One Individual at a Time New York: IDEA/Open Society. (Rhacel Parrenas and Kimberly Kay Hoang).
    • Flory, R., Loskota, B. . (2013). Why Religion Still Matters in the World Palgrave MacMillan. (Phillip Seib).
    • Flory, R. (2012). “A New Religion for Modern Times: American Journalism and Religion, 1870-1930,” in The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the News. Oxford University Press. (Diane Winston).
    • Flory, R., Farrag, H., Loskota, B., Belzer, T. . (2012). “Faith-Based Human Services: The Current State of Outcomes Assessment,” in Outcomes Measurement in the Human Services: Cross-Cutting Issues and Methods. NASW Press. (Edward J. Mullen and Jennifer L. Magnabosco).
    • Flory, R., Miller, D. . (2010). “The Expressive Communalism of Post-Boomer Religion in the U.S.” Ashgate. (Sylvie Collins-Mayo and Pink Dandelion). pp. p. 9-16.

    Book Review

    • Flory, R. (2021). Redeeming the City: Los Angeles in the Social Imagination of an Urban Social Ministry Routledge.
    • Flory, R. (2014). Evangelicals and Human Trafficking: Rescuing, Rehabilitating, and Releasing One Individual at a Time New York: IDEA/Open Society. (Rhacel Parrenas and Kimberly Kay Hoang).
    • Flory, R. (2013). Review of “Testing Prayer: Science and Healing” Contemporary Sociology.
    • Flory, R., Loskota, B. . (2013). Why Religion Still Matters in the World Palgrave MacMillan. (Phillip Seib).
    • Flory, R. (2013). Review of “To the Ends of the Earth: Pentecostalism and the Transformation of Global Christianity” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Vol. 52,
    • Flory, R. (2012). “A New Religion for Modern Times: American Journalism and Religion, 1870-1930,” in The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the News. Oxford University Press. (Diane Winston).
    • Flory, R. (2012). Review of “Worship Across the Racial Divide: Religious Music and Multiracial Congregations” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.
    • Flory, R., Farrag, H., Loskota, B., Belzer, T. . (2012). “Faith-Based Human Services: The Current State of Outcomes Assessment,” in Outcomes Measurement in the Human Services: Cross-Cutting Issues and Methods. NASW Press. (Edward J. Mullen and Jennifer L. Magnabosco).
    • Flory, R. (2011). Review of “Be Very Afraid: The Cultural Response to Terror, Pandemics, Environmental Devastations, Nuclear Annihilation, and Other Threats” by Robert Wuthnow Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.
    • Flory, R. (2011). Review of “Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults.” Sociology of Religion.
    • Flory, R. (2011). Review of “Hollywood Faith: Holiness, Prosperity and Ambition in a Los Angeles Church.” Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.
    • Flory, R. (2010). Review of “We Fight to Win: Inequality and the Politics of Youth Activism.” Contemporary Sociology.
    • Flory, R., Miller, D. . (2010). “The Expressive Communalism of Post-Boomer Religion in the U.S.” Ashgate. (Sylvie Collins-Mayo and Pink Dandelion). pp. p. 9-16.
    • Flory, R. (2009). Review of “God’s Potters: Pastoral Leadership and the Shaping of Congregations” Contemporary Sociology. Vol. 38 (3), pp. 221-222.

    Essay

    • Flory, R. (2019). Religious Institutions,” Forum: The Religious Situation, 1968 Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation.

    Encyclopedia Article

    • Flory, R. (2011). “Generational Change” in the Encyclopedia of Global Religion Sage. (Mark Juergensmeyer and Wade Clark Roof).

    Journal Article

    • Flory, R. (2017). Religious Innovation in Los Angeles and Seoul Korea Journal.
    • Flory, R. (2015). Mapping the New Landscape of Religion Boom: A Journal of California.
    • Flory, R., Miller, D. . (2012). The Dream Center: Spirit-Infused and Socially Engaged Urban Ministry Sheffield: PentecoStudies: An Interdisciplinary Journal for Research on the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements.

    Research Report

    • Flory, R. (2017). Reimagining Religion Los Angeles, CA: Center for Religion and Civic Culture.
    • Flory, R., Farrag, H., Gudaitis, P., Loskota, B. . (2013). Capacity Building for California Arab, Middle Eastern, and South Asian Communities Project
    • Flory, R., Farrag, H., Loskota, B. . (2012). Faithful Action: Working with Religious Groups in Disaster Planning, Response and Recovery Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California.
    • Flory, R., Miller, D., Loskota, B., Sato, T. . (2011). Opening the Gates: L.A. Congregations Confronting Gang Violence Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California.
    • Flory, R., Loskota, B., Miller, D. . (2011). Forging a New Moral and Political Agenda: The Civic Role of Religion in Los Angeles, 1992-2010 Center for Religion anc Civic Culture, University of Southern California.
    • Flory, R. (2009). Faith, Health and Policy: Public Health Reentry in San Diego Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California.

    Other

    • Flory, R. (2018). How California’s Megachurches changed Christian Culture The Conversation.
    • Flory, R. (2017). Revisiting the Legacy of Jerry Falwell Sr. in Trump’s America The Conversation.
    • Flory, R., Christerson, B. . (2017). How a Christian movement is growing rapidly in the midst of religious decline The Conversation.
    • Flory, R. (2017). The changing nature of America’s irreligious explained The Conversation.
    • Flory, R. (2016). How a new generation is changing evangelical Christianity The Conversation.
    • Flory, R. (2011). For Sale: 10,000 Panes of Glass and an Organ: What does the Demise of the Crystal Cathedral Mean for our Megachurches? Zocalo Public Square.

  • Committees

    • “”, 2009-2011
    • “”, 2009-2011

    Professional Offices

    • Council Member, Section on Sociology of Religion, American Sociological Association”, 2016-2020
    • Council Member, Association for the Sociology of Religion”, 2014-2018
    • Council Member, Section on Sociology of Religion, American Sociological Association”, 2011-2015
    • Newsletter Editor, Section on Sociology of Religion, American Sociological Association”, 2006-2012