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 be based on conflict or cooperation, will be one of the most engaging issues of the 21st century.

Patel says "in an era riven with interfaith tension and crying out for positive engagement with religious difference, higher education's approach should be to embrace religious diversity as it does all other kinds of identities, given its mission to 'nurture engaged and educated citizens for a pluralistic world.'"

Patel's statement mirrors many of the concepts of Smith's strategic plan, which prioritizes the ability to engage across difference and participate in the free exchange of ideas, and be stewards of the resources of the earth and the communities in which they live.  Religious identity, spiritual searching, and that which people hold sacred, are thus deeply embedded in the purview of a liberal arts education, even if the institution itself is based in secular values and a belief in science. The two things are not mutually exclusive and religion cannot be ignored either in an institution of higher education or in the service of creating a just pluralistic society anywhere.  Read more here. Diversity is a cornerstone of CRSL's mission.  Learn more here  about our partnership with Alden Baptist Church, a Springfield Church in the African American tradition.

About 25 Smithies gathered with Muslim scholar, author, activist Dr. Amina Wadud during the February 9 Jummah Prayer Lunch. Dr. Wadud, professor emerita at Virginia Commonwealth University and research scholar at the Starr King School for Ministry in Berkeley, CA, specializes in gender and Quranic Studies. She came to Smith as part of a two-day conference, entitled "Contemporary Women in Islam Politics and Identity," sponsored by the Lewis Global Studies Center. Su' di' Abdirahman '18 and Azhar Gulaid '18, who served on the conference steering committee, invited her to the student-led prayer service at the Helen Hills Hills Chapel.  

Dr. Wadud wanted to be treated as any other guest. She insisted on participating in the group's normal agenda for the day. But it was not a normal day. The informal prayer lunch hosted an impassioned female scholar who provided participants with sound guidance. She asked questions, listened, and engaged students in a deepening conversation about Islam.  Read more about the Islamic women's conference here and here. Watch a "Session Empowering Women Living in Islam," featuring a Smith student panel at the Islamic women's conference here . The Center for Religious and Spiritual Life invites students to learn more about the diverse experiences of Muslims at "My Islam 2018: An Exploration of Identity" on Sat., March 31, 7:00-9:00 pm., CC103/104.