This open access book is a testimony to the power of telling good stories, revealing that the sharing of good religious stories helps advance vital conversations around some of the most critical issues of our time.

Written by reporters and researchers who worked for five years with the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California, this book focuses on some of the greatest challenges to the contemporary human experience; from education, health care and socioeconomic development to environmental justice, gender and sexual equity, and interreligious dialogue. It draws on compelling profiles of spiritually engaged humanitarians to chronicle individuals' efforts to fix what is wrong, and suggests how readers might find their own solutions in exemplary stories.

The power and humanity of these portraits showcases how articles of faith, religious values, and spiritual commitments can help reimagine the way we engage the tangible, troubling realities of contemporary life. Originating from different traditions and diverse corners of the globe, these stories help dispel discouragement about the state of the world and instead inspire readers to take positive action to address our shared global challenges.

The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California.