-
This is the blog of the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (CRSL) at Smith College. To learn more, visit our website.
Browse by Categories
Browse by Tags
- Al-Iman
- Baha'i
- black lives matter
- Buddhism
- campus news
- Catholic
- Christianity
- community
- community service
- Cromwell Day
- CRSL news
- Easter
- Eid
- food
- grief
- Hindu
- identity
- interfaith
- Islam
- Islamophobia
- Jewish
- meditation
- mindfulness
- music
- national news
- nature
- Pagan
- Passover
- Pet-a-Pet Day
- poetry
- politics
- quotes
- race/racism
- Shabbat
- Smith Christian Fellowship
- Smith College Jewish Community
- spirituality
- stress/relaxation
- Student Advisory Board
- travel
- Vespers
- weekly programming
- welcome
- world news
- worship
-
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: Social Justice
Darkness and Light
There are verses in psalm 139 that I have used (to mix my spiritual metaphors) like a Zen Koan. “If I were to say that darkness will shadow me, then night would be light on my account…Night shines as day.” … Continue reading
Best Day Ever! Building Interfaith Community One Party at a Time!
by Kim Alston
This article represents reflections from Maeve Orlowski-Scherer ‘21, a student intern and leader in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. By 5:30 p.m., everything was ready. The chairs had been pushed back to the sides of the Helen Hills … Continue reading
Our Year on Climate Change: Expanding the Golden Rule
by Kim Alston
CRSL is part of Smith’s college-wide initiative on climate change. Director of Religious & Spiritual Life and College Chaplain Matilda Cantwell discusses the impact of climate change and its connection to the work of the CRSL. My friend and colleague … Continue reading
Doing Things That Change You: Action to Reflection at the CRSL
by Kim Alston
This summer I had the privilege of participating in the leadership of a conference entitled The Body, A Vehicle for Justice, Advocacy, and Change. https://starisland.org/program/star-gathering-2-family-conference-the-body/. Each day we began with a worship service in the Christian tradition, and this was followed … Continue reading
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
Posted in Exhibitions, Interfaith Matters, Response Statements, Social Justice
Tagged Christianity, Islam, Jewish, spirituality, worship
Leave a comment
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
Posted in Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Social Justice
Tagged Christianity, community, immigration, national news, politics, spirituality
Leave a comment
Poor People’s Campaign Sounds the Alarm
by Kim Alston and Matilda Cantwell
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
Posted in Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Social Justice
Tagged community, economic justice, local news, politics, quotes, race/racism
Leave a comment
Combatants for Peace:
ex-combatants lay down arms to seek peace
Two representatives from the bi-national grassroots organization Combatants for Peace (CFP) joined Smithies for a Peace Meal earlier this week. One representative was Palestinian; the other, Israeli. CFP was formed in 2006 when combatants on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict … Continue reading
Posted in Programs & Events, Social Justice, Student Reflections
Tagged community, CRSL news, food, politics, world news
Leave a comment
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
Posted in Interfaith Matters, Social Justice, Student Reflections
Tagged identity, Jewish, national news, politics, travel, world news
Leave a comment
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