Search the site

We help professionals better understand religion in the lives of those they serve by:

•	Supporting ground-breaking research on how religion impacts people and encouraging its use by the appropriate professionals;
•	Creating resources and training to improve the religious literacies among professionals;
•	Developing and testing curriculum in religion for all disciplines;
•	Presenting public forums and other activities to increase the visibility of religion in the public sphere.

Our Mission What we do Why is it important? What is a professional? Religion's impact on professionals Affiliations • National board • On campus • Affiliated faculty Current projects Past projects Future projects Getting involved Staff Supporting us Contact us

We support MU’s core values. Read about these values and initiatives here.

Understanding religious and cultural traditions can make or break an advertising campaign. Knowing how to appeal to an individual or community's sense of tradition, symbolism and beliefs about how the world functions creates effective advertising and marketing. Not understanding themes found offensive in various faiths and cultures can make a campaign fail or create backlash in those communities.

Advertising is about understanding the psychology of the audience, understanding what people believe, why they believe it and what it means to them. Understanding religious and cultural themes helps craft advertising, whether to a specific religious demographic or a mainstream audience.

Religious products, from Christian-themed movies and cartoons, to books and T-shirts, are a growing market. Also growing is designing campaigns for religious institutions, whether congregations, denominations or faiths, to establish a "brand," as well as advertising agencies devoted to particular faiths and faith markets. Six in 10 Americans say religion is "very important" in their lives. Advertising specifically to and for religious communities will be a continued trend.

Advertising and Society Review
First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion & Public Life
Journal of Contemporary Religion
Journal of Media & Religion
Journal of Religion & Society

American Academy of Religion Syllabi Search

Issues in American Consumer Culture
Prof. Chris Smith
University of Southern California

Religion and the Marketplace
Dr. Linda D. Holler
San Diego State University

Churches Advertising Network
Faith Based Marketing Association
Faith & Values Media
Religious Communication Association
Religion Communicators Council
World Association for Christian Communication

• Also see listing for Business
• See a full list of professional associations and resources here.

A blog about faith, values and spirituality in the media, from CORP faculty, staff and friends.

ReligiousLife@MU
A blog about religious life at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Curious about how religion affects your profession? Click on your discipline for some ideas.

Read the latest surveys and polls on religion, beliefs, trends and current events here.

See list of professional and faith organizations here.

Read scholarly and professional journals about religion and medicine, journalism, political science and more here.