Category Archives: Interfaith Matters

Mourning Places of Worship Victimized By Violence

Christchurch, Sri Lanka, San Diego. In recent years there have been increasingly common attacks on places of worship all over the world. In our diverse international, multi-religious, multicultural community here at Smith anywhere a tragedy happens will likely touch someone. … Continue reading

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Religion and Politics:
The intersections of our spiritual and moral lives

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King used to say he preached with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. I understand this to mean that his words were always inextricably linked with the moral and ethical … Continue reading

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Poor People’s Campaign Sounds the Alarm

I didn’t plan on going to a grassroots activist rally that day, June 4, 2018. But my days as Muslim Student Adviser offer many different opportunities, so I wasn’t surprised. Director of Religious & Spiritual Life and College Chaplain Rev. … Continue reading

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In Memoriam:
The Inauguration of Jill Ker Conway

Jill Ker Conway, the seventh president of Smith College, died a few weeks ago on 1 June 2018. She has been fondly remembered by many others, and I will not attempt to offer an additional obituary or recollection of her … Continue reading

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Activism in religious spaces:
Smithies pushing for peace at the J Street Conference

A handful of Smithies traveled to our nation’s Capitol last weekend to join 1,200 students at the national J-Street conference, which coincided with the organization’s 10th anniversary. J-Street is a national political movement that advocates for a peaceful, two-state resolution to … Continue reading

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Women’s Activism on the Religious Right

Dr. Lihi Ben Shitrit, Assistant Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia, presented a chapter summary and lecture drawn from her 2015 book “Righteous Transgressions: Women’s Activism on the Israeli and Palestinian Religious Right.” Dr. Shitrit travelled throughout … Continue reading

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The Legacy of Reverend Dr. King:
Where Do We Go From Here?

Twenty-two-year-old Stephon Clark was fatally shot by Sacramento Police in his grandmother’s backyard on March 18, 2018. If there is a vigil to be held in writing, let us do so now. The Center for Religious and Spiritual life held … Continue reading

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A Message from the Director

Dear Friends, Now more than ever, even in secular New England at Smith College, religion matters. Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, says that the question of how people orient around religion or interact with one another, whether that … Continue reading

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Nurturing Students with Secular Spiritual Programming

Here at the Center for Religious & Spiritual Life, we think it’s important to offer programming for students who are atheist or nonreligious. That may sound counterintuitive, but in fact it’s a vital part of what we do. When asked … Continue reading

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A Message from the Director

Dear Friends, Last spring Smith conducted a national search for the new leader of the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, and I put my hat in the ring, so to speak, after serving as Interim Director for a year, … Continue reading

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