University fellowships seek to promote interfaith dialogue

[rug]

By Jana Persky
May 12, 2013

The Office for Religious Life (ORL) will again offer two fellowships next year in an ongoing effort to build connections between various religious and spiritual groups on campus.

According to Dean of Religious Life Reverend Scotty McLennan, teaching students how to understand others’ beliefs is critical in training students for positions of global leadership.

“We need to graduate people from Stanford—ideally it would be every Stanford student—who understand the power and role of religion in the world and are able to help people talk across differences,” McLennan emphasized.

The two fellowships aim to contribute to interfaith dialogue in different ways. The Interfaith Fellowship, which offers a $4,000 stipend, selects two students to support interfaith programming in conjunction with the ORL, while the Rathbun Fellowship for Religious Encounter (FRE), which grants a $500 stipend, creates a weekly discussion space for up to 16 students.

http://www.stanforddaily.com/2013/05/12/university-fellowships-seek-to-promote-interfaith-dialogue/

[goldent]

1. Didn't realize Stanford has such an active religious life office n/t

[pinto]

2. There's an active interfaith group of local religious congregations and campus student groups here.

Includes the local atheist / agnostic group, as well. From what I've seen their main focus is tolerance, open communication, education along with community based hands-on projects. Good stuff all around.