Interfaith Circle
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Edition 37 | November 10, 2020
Latest news
Graphic: Rachel DeBusk
Aurora, the new Interfaith Living Learning Community at Virginia Tech
Aurora is a community of people— religious, non-religious, spiritual, secular, and seekers— who come together to explore the ways people make meaning and search for purpose, to connect to one another, and to work for positive action in the world. Applications open to current student until Nov 13.
Illustration: Brian Yohn
Aurora is one of the four new Living-Learning Programs for fall 2021
“Our goal is to create an environment where students can bring their whole selves, reflect on their values, learn with one another, expand their interfaith literacy, and engage in service for the common good”, said Dr. Najla Mouchrek, our Program Director Read more about Aurora and other three new LLPs in this VT News Article.
A new Interfaith Student Organization on Campus
A group of highly motivated students met last Spring in our interfaith dialogues and in events related to Common Ground, the interfaith leadership training. From these exchanges, they decided to initiate the first student organization of its kind on campus: Synergy Interfaith Collective at Virginia Tech. We couldn’t be prouder of our student leadership! Check their page on GobblerConnect and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.
Why interfaith?
Art: Beatriz Mouchrek & Cooper Whiteleather
Interfaith Spotlights with VT student leaders
“What from your worldview calls you to be an interfaith leader?” “Why do you think interfaith engagement in a college campus is important?” Follow “Interfaith Spotlights, our micro-interview series with student interfaith leaders at Virginia Tech to learn more about their perspectives and motivations.
Learning about diverse traditions
Persian Mystical Contribution to Humanity’s Spiritual Journey in the 21st Century
Students in Common Ground Interfaith Leadership Training and Synergy: Interfaith Collective at VT invite you to an interfaith talk with Mitra Nafissian-Rash, around the Persian contribution to spirituality, from Ancient Zoroastrianism which laid the foundation for Unity, to the Journey in Islam. Tue Nov 17. 5:30 pm. Click in the link to RSVP.
Diverse ways to live and to find meaning in life
Talk: Moving Beyond Our Information Silos
Join students in Common Ground and Synergy for this talk about a Humanist Approach to Bridging Religious and Non-Religious Divides for Cooperative Action. With M.L.Clark on Friday November 13, 5 pm. Click to RSVP.
Engage with the Interfaith Initiative at VT
LAST SESSION: Interfaith Cooperation & Civil Rights
Join us for the last session in the series on Interfaith Cooperation & Civil Rights, based on IFYC curriculum. Open for students, faculty, staff & community members of diverse worldviews. Thursday November 12 – 5 pm. Click to RSVP.
NEXT WEEK: Fall Interfaith Bag Dialogues for faculty, staff, and community
Participate in a constructive dialogue about diverse traditions. Join us every other Thursday, 12-1 pm, Sep 10 to Dec 3. Click to sign up and attend the sessions, in which faculty, staff and community are welcome to present activities about their worldviews.
NEXT WEEK: Fall Interfaith Dialogues for Students
Dialogues with students from diverse traditions will happen over Zoom: every other Wednesday 5:30 to 7 pm, from September 9 to December 2. Click to sign up and attend the sessions, in which students are also invited to facilitate dialogues about their tradition.
Previous editions
Access the previous editions of the Interfaith Circle Newsletter.