Christopher Born, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Religion and Culture
Specialization:
Baby Boomer religious activities, sociology of religion, economics of religion/rational choice theory, church growth dynamics, and religion and sports
Biography
I was raised in Cincinnati, OH and was strongly influenced by the Jesuit educational model at St. Xavier High School. I dabbled in acting for a while at The University of Dallas in Irving, TX before finally reconsidering and completing a B. A. in philosophy. Upon graduating, I managed to split time between fine-tuning my golf game, playing in various sports leagues, and working as a technology consultant at Procter and Gamble in Cincinnati, OH.
The looming downturn in the technology field persuaded me to go back to school to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Humanities at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. This wonderful program enlivened the desire to pursue a Ph. D and a career in higher education. Not long after, I entered the Religion and Culture program in the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America to pursue my passion of studying religious behavior-in-action in the United States.
In addition to teaching at The Catholic University of America, I have also taught at Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH) and Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH).
Current Research
My dissertation was an empirical and ethnographic study of Catholic Baby Boomers and changes in religious practices among those who move south upon retirement. I performed an in-depth study of three distinct retirement regions within the Diocese of Raleigh, NC. My ongoing research utilizes the 1,984 surveys compiled from this study along with dozens of interviews with pastors, administrators, and Boomers in the Diocese of Raleigh to further investigate the effects being a member of a minority faith or small-market religious group has on religious belief and practice. Additionally, I use this data along with other demographic data (i.e., U.S. Census) to ponder the future of the Catholic Church in the South.
In addition to focusing on Boomers and the impact small-market share has on religious activities, I have also incorporated my passion for sports into my research. Over the past five years, I have investigated the role professional baseball and other American sports can have on American civil religion.
When I am not in the classroom or in the office, I can be found at a local ball field coaching one or both of my two young sons in their various athletic endeavors.
