iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Rates of Christian nationalism attitudes among adult general populations from 24 countries, as measured in the 2023 International Social Survey Programme (ISSP)

011

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Join us for our next hybrid panel on Christian Nationalism in Canada. This free event will take place from 3:30pm-4:30pm EDT on Monday October 19th, 2026. Please register here to attend: uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

024

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Check out this new episode of the Rebellion Dogs podcast, featuring our Director Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme following up on her keynote lecture at the World Humanist Congress this past August, with discussions on nonreligion in Canada and the US: rebelliondogspublishing.com/rebellious-r...

023

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Join us for a webinar with Dr. Jacob Legault-Leclair from UCL titled "How Religiosity Differs Over Time and Generations Among Immigrants in Canada, the USA, the UK, and Australia" @ 2pm EDT on Sept. 28, 2026. Please register here to attend the free event: uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

012

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Unfortunately, Kraig Beyerlein's talk "Methods Matter: Studying the Urban Religious Landscape in Chicago and Toronto," originally planned for Sept. 17, has been cancelled. We're hoping to bring you his talk in Spring 2027 instead. Stay tuned for more details.

010

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Teaser for our new Maple Spirit Pulse video "Religious Diversity in Waterloo Region and in Canada." Watch the complete video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2We...

032

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

A big congratulations to Jacob Legault-Leclair who successfully defended his PhD dissertation last week titled "Secular Transition and Religious Transmission in Canada, Australia, the United States and Europe: A Quantitative Analysis of Migration and Family Religious Socialization."

141

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

% in each country who retained their religious tradition from childhood into adulthood; who grew up and are still nonreligious; who disaffiliated from the religion of their childhood; and who converted to a different religion from that of their childhood; based on 2018 ISSP data

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Congrats to our associate director Galen Watts and his research collaborator Milos Brocic on receiving SSHRC IG funding for their project "Culture Wars" in Canada: Romantic Expressivism and the Reconfiguration of Political Conflict!!!

110

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Religiosity indicators for young men and young women in Canada, 2013-2023. YOUNG WOMEN NOW LESS RELIGIOUS ON AVERAGE THAN YOUNG MEN for all three indicators, a first in recent Canadian history. Data from Statistics Canada's General Social Surveys.

140

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Congratulations to our Associate Director Galen Watts, who recently won the 2026 Canadian Sociological Association's Early Investigator Award!!! www.csa-scs.ca/early-invest... @csa-scs.bsky.social

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Statistics Canada released its 2023 GSS PUMF data last month. Here are some 5-year religiosity trends, 2018-2023, among young adults (15-24) and adults more generally in Canada. All religiosity indicators down slightly between 2018-2023, with steeper declines for religious affiliation.

111

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

It's Census Day in Canada! Religion is on the long-form question list in 2026 (in the past, it was only ever asked every 10 years). 25% of households will report on their members' (non)religious affiliations! Statistics Canada is likely to publish the first round of results next year,

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

A majority in most countries included in the @nonreligioncf.bsky.social’s 2023 CSVS survey support the principle of freedom of religion, but in most of these same countries (except Brazil + USA) less than 50% of respondents also disagree with potential limits placed on minority religious practices.

011

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Sinara, undergrad student assisting the IRCSF this term, summarizes here some key points from Christine Gervais's and Amanda Watson's talk earlier this month titled "Resisting Orders: Catholic Sisters Contest Their Church." To watch Christine's and Amanda’s full webinar, visit: youtu.be/9I3G7KR-t2E

021

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Join us for our next free hybrid event with authors G. Watts & S. Wilkins-Laflamme on their new article "The Secular Sacred Canopy: A Paradigm Revision in the Study of Secularization” on April 30th, 2-3pm EDT. To attend the event, please register here: uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

100

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

In this infographic, Sinara, undergrad student assisting the IRCSF this term, summarizes some key points from Anna Strhan's talk earlier this month on growing up godless and nonreligious childhoods. To watch Anna’s full webinar, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x81m...

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

New article out by our Associate Director Galen Watts & Director Sarah Wilkins Laflamme titled "The Secular Sacred Canopy: A Paradigm Revision in the Study of Secularization." Check it out for free at: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

110

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

In this infographic, Sinara, undergrad student assisting the IRCSF this term, summarizes some key points from Gary Adler's talk last month on Catholic government officials' views on Church and State in the USA. To watch this webinar, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv7j...

010

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Join us and authors C. Gervais, A. D. Watson and S. Kleuskens for an upcoming webinar "Resisting Orders: Catholic Sisters Contest Their Church.” This free event will take place April 2nd @ 2-3pm EDT. To attend the virtual event, please register here: uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

011

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

In this infographic, Sinara, undergrad student assisting the IRCSF this term, summarizes some key points from our “Habits of the Heart” webinar last month. To watch this webinar in full, visit: youtu.be/6E6lnJa0D88

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

We’re looking forward to hosting a webinar with Anna Strhan on her new co-authored book "Growing Up Godless: Non-Religious Childhoods in Contemporary England," 2:30pm-3:30pm EST on March 4th. To attend the free virtual event, please register here: uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

046

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Our Director Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme is currently a visiting researcher at the Centre for Fertility and Health in Oslo, Norway! Below are the average number of children women aged 20-44 in Canada have in their household, by women's religious group

100

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

In this infographic, Naz, undergrad assisting the IRCSF last term, summarizes some key points from Joel Thiessen's talk last November "Planting Seeds: The Catholic Parish in the Religious Transmission Ecosystem." To watch Joel's guest lecture from last November: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtMa...

011

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

In this infographic, Joanne, undergrad assisting the IRCSF last term, summarizes some key points from Joel Thiessen's talk last November "Planting Seeds: The Catholic Parish in the Religious Transmission Ecosystem." To watch Joel's guest lecture from last November: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtMa...

011

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Immigration trends among Canadian (non)religious groups, from 2021 Census data. Catholics, Muslims and those with no religious affiliation gained the most people from immigration to Canada between 2016-2021.

100

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Join us for our upcoming webinar "Habits of the Heart, Then and Now - A 40th Anniversary Retrospective." This free event on Zoom will take place from 1-2pm EST on Thursday January 22nd, 2026. To attend, please register here: uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

122

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

(3/3) To watch Joel's guest lecture from last November: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtMa...

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

(2/3) "...These nine practices represent empirically grounded strategies that strengthen transmission outcomes for children and youth. They enhance parental, parish, peer, and institutional influences, helping the ecosystem function more effectively."

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

(1/3) Elina, undergrad assisting the IRCSF last term, summarizes the following from last November's talk: "Joel Thiessen discussed the concept of religious transmission ecosystems in his guest lecture...

211

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Amy, undergrad student assisting the IRCSF this term, highlights the following finding in this poster as particularly interesting from Joel Thiessen's talk last month at St. Jerome's University:

211

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Naz, undergrad student assisting the IRCSF this autumn, highlights in this reel some of her key takeaways from Christian Smith's webinar last month about the US religious landscape titled "Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith."

110

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Amy, undergrad student assisting the IRCSF this autumn, highlights in this poster some of her key takeaways from Christian Smith's webinar last month titled "Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith." Watch Christian's IRCSF talk here: youtu.be/BVxCy5zacf4

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Join us for our last webinar of the autumn 2025 term: the launch of Kevin Flatt's new book "Secularization, Social Order, and World History: Toward a Global Perspective" on Friday December 12th @ 2pm EST. Register here to attend the free event: uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

022

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Joanne, undergrad student assisting the IRCSF this autumn, highlights here some of her key takeaways from Christian Smith's webinar earlier this month titled "Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith." Watch Christian's IRCSF talk here: youtu.be/BVxCy5zacf4

010

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

#Christian #nationalism in #Canada and the #USA from mid-1990s to mid-2020s, based on International Social #Survey Programme data. 12% of #Canadians in 2023 say it's very or fairly important to be a Christian to be "truly" Canadian, compared with 36% in the USA in 2024 to be "truly" #American.

110

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Elina, IRCSF student this autumn, highlights her key takeaways from our last webinar: "Christian Smith discussed his new book, and outlined new concepts — Cultural Zeitgeists and Cultural Mismatch — through which he explored the question: Why is religion becoming obsolete?"

100

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Amy, an undergrad student assisting the IRCSF this term, focuses on the concept of the civil sphere as her key takeaway from Mervyn Horgan’s talk at the IRCSF last month:

100

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

2024 Canadian data on (non)religious switching from Pew Research Center's report "Around the World, Many People are Leaving their Childhood Religions": www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/u...

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Joanne, one of the undergrad students assisting the IRCSF this term, created the following infographics on the sacred as a space of collectivization, based on Mervyn Horgan's talk at the IRCSF last month:

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Naz (undergrad student assisting the IRCSF), writes about last month’s IRCSF event: we heard from Mervyn Horgan, who took us into the world of Erving Goffman, helping us think about the everyday interactions we often take for granted, what Goffman called the Interaction Order.

100

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Join us for our next free webinar event with Christian Smith titled "Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith" on Friday November 7th, 2025 @ 2pm EST. Register to attend the free event here: uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

012

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Elina, an undergrad student at the IRCSF, writes about last week's IRCSF event: Dr. Horgan discussed how the sacred is not confined to religious institutions: it persists (in altered forms) in secular realms, moral imaginaries, public rituals, and everyday encounters.

100

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Check out the CSSR - Canadian Society for the Study of Religion's upcoming webinar. Register here for the free event: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Over 1/3 of the Canadian pop. has no religious affiliation. This Pew Research Center report looks into the spiritual beliefs and practices, as well as attitudes towards religion, among the religiously unaffiliated across the world, including here in Canada. www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...

101

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Eastern Europe is home to some of the most secular countries in the world, such as Estonia (81% of its pop is religiously unaffiliated according to EVS 2017) and Czechia (77%), as well as some very Christian ones (Poland and Ukraine for example).

110

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

We're back from the summer break with Fall 2025 events! First up is a talk on Sept. 24 @ 2:30pm EDT with Mervyn Horgan on current uses of Durkheim's concept of the sacred in sociology. Register for the free hybrid event here: uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

001

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Interested in knowing more about Canada's 129 publicly-funded Catholic hospitals and long-term care homes? Check out Amelie Barras' and Andrea Paras' new article "Canadian Catholic Health Care at the Nexus of Multiple Legal Regimes": resolve.cambridge.org/core/journal...

000

Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures @ircsf.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

New 2025 ISSP Canada data on religion are now available. Below are rates of religious nones and monthly attenders in 2023 and 2025 between the comparable ISSP Canada general population surveys.

010