RESOURCE TOOLKIT FOR THE UALBANY COMMUNITY

The Multicultural Resource Center in collaboration with the Interfaith Center present the Interfaith Inclusion Toolkit. The Interfaith Center is dedicated to creating a space for organizations, students, and faculty to meet, explore, meditate, and practice their spiritual traditions. Our chaplains and faculty volunteer offer guidance to support our students and groups by intentionally creating a welcoming and civil environment. We hope you use this toolkit to help our students and staff navigate differences in a respectful and positive way.

Interfaith Center Key Message

The Interfaith Center seeks to spread the message of harmony and acceptance among the followers of all the world’s religions, faiths, and beliefs.

Objectives

1. To co-ordinate and unite the efforts of all the faith-based groups doing positive work with one focused theme at one specific time semesterly, thereby increasing their collective momentum and eliminating redundancy.

2. To promote the similarities between different beliefs rather than emphasize the differences and conflicts.

This toolkit contains links to videos, photos, articles, and shared resource folder to be used at the University at Albany to explore the spiritual practices and traditions, while also sharing the various ways our faith-based leaders collaborate with the Office of Intercultural Student Engagement.

1. Getting Started a. What is Interfaith? b. Interfaith Center Chaplains and Faculty Volunteers c. Interfaith Events

2. Getting Involved a. Interfaith in Action b. Faith-Based Student Organizations c. Faith-Based and Community Initiatives d. Religious Accommodations

3. Taking Action a. Green Faith Initiatives b. Social Justice and People of Faith c. Shared Resource Folder, click here.

WHAT IS INTERFAITH?

The word "interfaith" describes an interaction between people of different religions or faith traditions. But it is more than that. It is about understanding our significant differences, but also recognizing our similarities, and working together for peace, justice and healing in our world.

Interfaith cooperation is not about renouncing religions or combining all religions into one. In fact, many people find that their friendships with people in other traditions strengthen their understanding and respect for their own tradition.

Interfaith friendships reach out across the stereotypes and misunderstandings that lead to religiously motivated violence. They reinforce the idea that, regardless of religion or belief tradition, every human deserves respect.

Interfaith interactions live out the core values that are shared by all religions - values like compassion, respect, love, hope and peace, which are necessary for sustaining life in all communities. To learn more, click here.

The Interfaith Center creates a space for all religious, faith, and spiritual traditions to be celebrated.

INTERFAITH CENTER CHAPLAINS & VOLUNTEERS

The Interfaith Center has served the University community since 1966, providing space and opportunities for worship and meditation, programs to learn about other spiritual/faith traditions, and service projects. The center has five advisors supporting interfaith values through their work with the following student organizations: Cornerstone Campus Ministry, Hillel, The Newman Catholic Association, the Muslim Student Association, and the Buddhist Student Association.

Rev. Dr. Becca Ehrlich, Protestant Campus Minister

Pastor Becca is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). She is passionate about helping students grow spiritually! Before becoming Protestant Campus Minister for Cornerstone Campus Ministry at UAlbany, she served in Admissions and Community Life at seminaries, served in in Bishops' offices, and pastored in congregations. She also currently teaches Christian Spirituality as Adjunct Professor at United Lutheran Seminary and is an active Spiritual Director. Her book, Christian Minimalism: Simple Steps for Abundant Living was published in 2021, and she continues to write about minimalism from a Christian perspective at www.christianminmalism.com

Email: rehrlich@albany.edu

Phone: 518-442-5591

Catherine Reid, Catholic Campus Minister

Brief Bio

Email: creid@albany.edu

Phone: 518-442-5592

Rabbi Nomi Manon, Campus Rabbi

Brief Bio

Email: nmanon@albany.edu

Phone: 518-442-5586

Imam Umar Rafiq, Muslim Campus Chaplain

Brief Bio

Email: mumar@albany.edu

Phone: 518-442-5594

Dr. Aaron Proffitt, Faculty Advisor to the Buddhist Student Association

Email: aproffitt@albany.edu

Phone: 518-442-4117

Interfaith Events

Interfaith dialogue can unlock the power of religious traditions and provide the inspiration, guidance, and validation necessary for populations to move toward non-violent means of conflict resolution. Our interfaith events bring people together by creating a space welcoming to people of different religious or non-religious backgrounds. It provides an opportunity for collaboration, conversation, and action toward a common goal. Below are a few of the signature Interfaith Center Events:

IFC Mixer: Connect with students interested in practicing or learning about the Interfaith center and the groups affiliated with our office.

Unity Dinner: Every fall a dinner is held to celebrate the success of the semester, our similarities, and the upcoming new year.

Interfaith Dialogue Series

The Interfaith Dialogue Series is designed to present issues that impact the lived experience of everyday life from theological, religious, spiritual, ethical, and humanitarian perspectives.

• Faith in the Fight – organizing interfaith and secular coalitions for racial equity and justice.

• Women in Interfaith – explores female interfaith initiatives as agents of change for achieving a more inclusive sustainable peace.

• Race & Religion – explore the complexity and volatility of the relationship between race and religion, not only in the United States, but in other parts of the world.

• Green Faith Initiatives – The connection between religion and ecology and mobilizes faith communities to act.

Interfaith In Action

Promoting acceptance of diverse faiths, traditions, and cultures, The Interfaith Center provides a welcoming atmosphere where people can explore and grow in their beliefs while developing an appreciation for the beliefs of others. To create this atmosphere, consider the following below:

Events and programming

• Be mindful of spring holidays and days of observance. Reference multicultural and interfaith calendars to ensure that events and critical deadlines do not conflict with holidays.

• If serving food at events, provide dietary accommodations for attendees that are inclusive of diverse dietary restrictions and fasting guidelines.

For virtual classrooms or meetings

• Though we are now utilizing virtual learning, students who are fasting will still experience fatigue. Be aware of the times of day that assessments and meetings are administered.

• Record classes and meetings when possible.

• Be mindful of your physical actions and statements during virtual and in person meeting experiences. Try not to eat or drink on camera during virtual and in-person meetings.

• Be conscious of the time deadlines are given for assignments and meetings.

Recommendations for everyone

• Be mindful of how you make announcements, so as not to target specific students.

• Do not assume all members of a religious community are fasting. There are several reasons as to why a person is not fasting. It is also not appropriate to ask why a person is not fasting.

FAITH-BASED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Faith formation and reflective religious dialogue play an essential role in the education and development of the whole person. Our chaplains advise 5 religious/faith-based groups. They ensure that the organizations purpose, methods, and activities adhere to the values of their faith.

Cornerstone Protestant Campus Ministry

Cornerstone offers opportunities for Christians from all traditions for interaction, study, and service. Join us for a variety of activities and programs to help you grow spiritually and meet others, make a connection with a local congregation and serve the campus community through our Peer Minister program, and/or be part of making a difference in our community by volunteering for one of our mission/service projects.

Email: rehrlich@albany.edu; uacornerstone@gmail.com

Instagram: @ualbanycornerstone; Twitter: Cornerstone PCM; Facebook: Cornerstone Campus Ministry

Linktree: linktr.ee/ualbanycornerstone

Website: https://www.ualbanycornerstone.org

Newman Association

A welcoming Catholic community for students looking to explore their faith, have fun together, participate in service projects for and with the wider community, and grow in their relationship with God and others.

Email:

Instagram: @ualbanynewman

Linktree: liknktr.ee/ualbanynewman

Hillel

Is an organization that is dedicated to empowering students to develop strong Jewish identities through creative self-expression. Our community is built on a foundation of pluralism and celebrated diversity. Our programs strive to provide Jewish learning, social connections, Shabbat and holiday celebrations, art, and culture, and most importantly a place where students can help change the world through tikkun olam.

Hillel’s mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. Hillel student leaders, professionals and lay leaders are dedicated to creating a pluralistic, welcoming, and inclusive environment for Jewish college students, where they are encouraged to grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially. Hillel helps students find a balance in being distinctively Jewish and universally human by encouraging them to pursue tzedek (social justice), tikkun olam (repairing the world) and Jewish learning, and to support a global Jewish peoplehood.

Email: info@ualbanyhillel.org

Instagram: @ualbanyhillel

Linktree: linktr.ee/ualbanyhillel

Muslim Student Association

In the name of Allah, the Owner, and Giver of Mercy. The Muslim Students Association is an organization geared toward providing religious, academic, and social services to the Muslim students on campus. Our goals include promotion of religious tolerance by working with other faith-based groups, educating the general campus community on the Islamic faith, uniting the campus community with the greater Capital District Muslim communities, and encouraging civic participation through community service events.

Email:

Instagram: @ualbanymsa

Linktree: linktr.ee/uamsa

Buddhist Student Association

Our purpose is to serve the Buddhist student community, as well as those students interested in learning about the Buddhist practice, meditation, overall spirituality, and East Asian Culture.

Email:

Instagram: @ualbanybuddishitstudentassoc

FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

Our faith-based organizations with the assistance of our chaplains and advisors lead and coordinate community programs and initiatives to fulfill the center’s core values.

Cornerstone Protestant Campus Ministry – Winter Service Trip; Service events throughout the academic year Newman Association –

Hillel -

Muslim Student Association -

Buddhist Student Association -

Local organizations who are faith partners

• Habitat for Humanity - No experience is necessary to volunteer, and all faith groups are welcome.

Sacred Spaces

The Interfaith Center, prayer spaces, and our meditation room are sacred spaces dedicated to cultivating spiritual life that serve as visible signs of the importance of faith at the University at Albany. These spaces are in the campus center.

• IFC Multipurpose Room Campus Center 346 o Open during center hours.

• Meditation Room Campus Center 346 o Opened during center hours.

• Prayer Room Campus Center West 182 o For more information regarding how to gain access to the prayer space, please contact the Muslim Student Association at ualbanymsa@gmail.com

EATING ACCORDING TO RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: KOSHER AND HALAL

As the U.S. population continues to grow and diversify, religious dietary restrictions, such as kosher and halal, are increasingly followed.

The Kosher Diet: Food is kosher when it meets dietary requirements outlined by Jewish law or kashrut, making it acceptable for people observing those laws to eat.

The Halal Diet: Islamic dietary laws define which foods are halal. Halal foods are lawful and permitted to be eaten by those observing Islamic teachings. Muslims are not allowed to consume foods or beverages that are Haram or forbidden.

Additional resources:

• Why Do People Really Keep Kosher, Anyway? - https://www.thespruceeats.com/why-keep-kosher-2121847

• What does Kosher mean? - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-iskosher

• What is Halal Food? - https://www.crescentrating.com/magazine/muslimtravel/4020/what-is-halal-food.html

• New York’s Halal Food Protection Act - https://agriculture.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/02/halalfoodsprotectionactbro chure_0.pdf

Understanding Fasting Practices

Religions and philosophies that practice fasting include Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Jainism, and Hinduism. Fasting can last for just a few hours or even a few weeks, usually with practitioners eating at night. Interestingly, even within a religion, different denominations or sects may fast differently or at different times.

Fasting is to refrain from all drinking and eating. Exclusions include children or those who are physically unable to fast.

Lent Fasting: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, fasting rules allow Catholics to eat only one full meal and two smaller meals which, combined, would not equal a single normal meal. Additionally, Catholics may not eat meat on these two days–or on any Friday during Lent.

Fasting Observances Examples:

• Christianity: Lent

• Muslims: Ramadan

• Judaism: Yom Kippur

• Hinduism: The month of Śravaṇa

Additional resources:

• Religion Fasting Types & Purpose - https://study.com/academy/lesson/religiousfasting-types-purpose.html

• 6 religions other than Islam that require fastinghttps://tribune.com.pk/story/1117283/6-religions-islam-require-fasting

• How to support your Muslim coworkers who are fasting during Ramadanhttps://www.businessinsider.com/how-support-your-muslim-coworkers-who-arefasting-during-ramadan

• How to fast for Lent: A Practical Guide - https://gravityleadership.com/how-to-fastfor-lent/

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL MEDITATION?

Some archaeologists date meditation back to as early as 5,000 BCE, according to Psychology Today, and the practice itself has religious ties in ancient Egypt and China, as well as Judaism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and, of course, Buddhism. Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health. It is not an attempt to escape from problems or difficulties, it is a willingness to go nose to nose with pain, confusion, and loss to seek understanding.

• In Buddhism, mindfulness meditation goal is to be present in a self-compassionate and nonjudgmental fashion.

• In Hindu meditation, the goal is to achieve liberation (moksha) by realizing the nature of oneself (atman).

• In Christianity meditation can mean contemplation of scriptural verse or can have an aim of experiencing God’s presence within you.

Additional resources:

• Dr. Proffitt leads a mindfulness meditation with the Buddhist Student Association every week in the Interfaith Center. •

YOGA – SPIRITUAL ROOTS OF A PHYSICAL PRACTICE

The original context of yoga was spiritual development practices to train the body and mind to self-observe and become aware of their own nature. The purposes of yoga were to cultivate discernment, awareness, self-regulation, and higher consciousness in the individual.

The introduction of Yoga to the West is often credited to Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), who first came to the United States of America in 1883. He organized world conferences by describing Yoga as a “science of the mind” and translated Yogic texts from Sanskrit into English. In 1893, during a visit to the US, he sparked the country’s interest by demonstrating Yoga at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Yoga is amongst the six schools of philosophy in Hinduism and is also a major part of Buddhism and its meditation practices. According to the Yogic scriptures, the practice of Yoga leads an individual to the union of consciousness with that of universal Consciousness. It eventually leads to a great harmony between the human mind and body, man & nature.

Additional resources:

• Campus Recreation provides beginner’s Yoga classes. Visit their group exercise schedule here

The Power Of Spiritual Symbols

Spiritual symbols are a means to understanding the soul, sense of self, and oneness. Each spiritual symbol in the world is rooted in shared human experiences and carries forward important messages, reminding us to learn from the past, push for the future, and live in the present. As the symbols are commonly used to decorate jewelry items, it is imperative to understand their true meanings before wearing them on our bodies or decorating our homes with them.

Additional resources: •

The Importance Of Music In Different Religions

The relationship between music and religion can be found across many different religions such as Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Since ancient times, religious ceremonies and worship have always involved music and this has been evidenced by traditions across different cultures and geographic regions. To learn more, click here.

Additional resources:

• How religious music continuous to impact the music scene todayhttps://dailyorange.com/2018/10/religious-music-continues-impact-music-scenetoday/

• Religion and Music at the Smithsonian - https://music.si.edu/story/religion-andmusic-smithsonian

• Music and Islam: A Deeper Look - https://asiasociety.org/arts/music-and-islamdeeper-look

Social Justice And People Of Faith

Religion has always had a powerful role in shaping ideas of social justice, oppression, and liberation. Religious communities also directly oppose repression and promote peace and reconciliation. Consider, for example, the Black church’s central role in the civil rights movement.

Additional resources:

• Bridging Faith and Social Justice Across Generationshttps://ssir.org/articles/entry/bridging_faith_and_social_justice_across_generations

• Jewish Center for Justice - https://jewishcenterforjustice.org/

• Interfaith America - https://www.interfaithamerica.org/

• Interfaith Alliance of Upstate New York - https://www.interfaithallianceupstateny.org/

Navigating Lgbt Identities And Religion

The relationship between religion and the LGBTQ community is a complicated one, and everyone experiences it differently. It all depends on how you feel, and what you choose. The relationship with religion is completely up to the individual. To learn more, click here.

Additional resources:

• All We Want is Equalityhttps://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/article/navigating-lgbtq-identities-andreligion/

• Religiosity Among LGBT Adults in the UShttps://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-religiosity-us/

• For LGBTQ Equality in Jewish Life - https://www.keshetonline.org/

Green Faith Initiatives

The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative is an international, multi-faith alliance that works to bring moral urgency and faith-based leadership to global efforts to end tropical deforestation. They provide a platform for religious leaders to work together with indigenous peoples, governments, civil society organizations and business on actions that protect rainforests and safeguard the indigenous peoples that serve as their guardians.

To learn more, click here.

THE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY

Both religion and spirituality can help a person tolerate stress by generating peace, purpose, and forgiveness.

Religion gives people something to believe in, provides a sense of structure and typically offers a group of people to connect with over similar beliefs. These facets can have a large positive impact on mental health research suggests that religiosity reduces suicide rates, alcoholism and drug use.