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This is the blog of the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (CRSL) at Smith College. To learn more, visit our website.
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in these posts are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily shared by CRSL or by Smith College.
Category Archives: Newsletter Articles
Reflections on Peace
by Anna Ostow
Peace Now: Not the Absence of Tension but the Presence of Justice; Not the Presence of War but the Absence of Weapons By Reverend Matilda Cantwell, CRSL Director and College Chaplain When I was seventeen, I had a purple T-shirt; … Continue reading
Introducing the Reflect, Resist, Rejuvenate Lounge
by Anna Ostow
REFLECT RESIST REJUVENATE LOUNGE We are proud to announce the official “opening” or coming on-line of our Reflect, Resist, Rejuvenate lounge. This room was re-purposed just prior to the pandemic from a reading room to a reading room plus, with … Continue reading
What is Mindfulness Anyway?
by Anna Ostow
Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzz word these days, alongside concepts like “self-care.” So what is mindfulness anyways? Mindfulness is another way of talking about being present. To be present is to drop into current time and the … Continue reading
Posted in Newsletter Articles, Reflections, Spirituality
Tagged Buddhism, community, meditation, mindfulness, spirituality, stress/relaxation
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Invocation for Generating Justice and Joy Nov. 30, 2021
by Kim Alston
We are grateful that our earth has the capacity to take care of all living creatures. We affirm the importance of the humanity of all people. We are gathered to reconfirm our commitment to the seeking of this great concept … Continue reading
2021-2022: The Center for Religious and Spiritual Life Explores Transformative and Disability Justice as Spiritual Practices
This year as Smith focuses on “Democracies,” we are painfully aware that social injustices were woven into the fabric of our society at its founding. We also find ourselves at a point at which the very structure of democracy in … Continue reading
Posted in History, Newsletter Articles, Reflections, Social Justice, Spirituality, Uncategorized
Tagged campus news, community, CRSL news, Democracy, Disability, spirituality, transformation, welcome
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The Planting of Critical Hope: The Practice of Grief and the Blooming of Justice
Dear Friends, Critical hope is defined by Scholar Paulo Freire as a way of addressing injustice through meaningful dialogue—we are not hopeful because we wait for the future, because we create it. Critical thinking is the process by which we interrogate and dismantle. Critical hope is the … Continue reading
Racial Justice in Islam Series Connects Leaders to Students
by Kim Alston
The Racial Justice in Islam: Opening Our Hearts series was created as a space for students to learn about Islam’s approach towards justice, its historical foundation, and modern-day implications. Through asynchronous dialogue with noted Islamic leaders students were encouraged to … Continue reading
Reflection on Cromwell Day
by Kim Alston
I’m reading a book that I find interesting on the subject of race. It’s called Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life, written by scholar educators Karen E. Fields and Barbara J. Fields. As the title suggests race or … Continue reading
A Reflection
The Place Where We Are Right by Yehuda Amichai From the place where we are right Flowers will never grow In the spring. The place where we are right Is hard and trampled Like a yard. But doubts and loves … Continue reading
Posted in Newsletter Articles, Reflections, Social Justice, Spirituality
Tagged campus news, community, CRSL news, spirituality
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Memory and History
Memory and Historiography–the writing of history–are two forces that stand in opposition for the heart and soul of a people. Of the two, memory has much more power than history. I learned this from a small book I read in … Continue reading