Multifaith Partnering Reflects a Diverse Religious Scene At Bates

March 31, 2009

Author: Simone Path

Source: The Bates Student

http://www.batesstudent.com/news/multifaith-partnering-reflects-a-diverse-religious-scene-at-bates-1.1636117

With at least 10 religious organizations on campus, the religious scene at Bates is diverse, in part because it is a nonsectarian school. Spirituality at Bates transcends religion, residing not in the practice of one or even several dominant faiths but in the community.

The activity levels of some of the religious clubs vary, but the following organizations are usually permanent fixtures at Bates: Baha’i Association, Catholic Student Community, Christian Fellowship, Christian Science Organization, Dharma Society, Hillel, Mushahada Association, Secular Student Alliance and Unitarian Universalist Association.

Student religious groups have a chance to interact and learn from each other at the Multifaith banquet, which includes representatives of all faiths who tell stories and offer blessings.

Dialogue among groups is limited, but in the past there have been periods of tension between Hillel and Students for Peace and Justice in Palestine and Mushahada that Multifaith Chaplain Bill Blaine-Wallace helped negotiate.

Beyond student religious groups, the Multifaith Chaplaincy, consisting of Blaine-Wallace and Assistant Chaplain Emily Wright-Timko, is an integral part of the spiritual community at the College.

Both chaplains sat down in their headquarters above the Harward Center to discuss the diversity of religious expression at the College and what they, as chaplains and as members of the community, provide.

See also: Interfaith, Campus