Pluralism, progress, problems: 50 years of interfaith chaplaincy

At the intersection of Scripps College, Pomona College and Claremont McKenna College stands the McAlister Center for Religious Activities (also called the McAlister Center for Spiritual Life), an institution many students pass every day. However, according to former Protestant Chaplain Naima Lett, 75% of the community she encountered during the 2021-2022 school year was unaware of the center’s chaplain services, which provide counseling for all students and faculty of the Claremont colleges regardless of religion. Even less known is the chaplaincy system’s fifty years of complex history, representing both the cutting edge of inclusive college campuses and archaic systems no longer relevant to student needs.

Read more

Interfaith challah-making event braids together Muslim and Jewish students

There are few feelings as universal as ripping into freshly baked bread, warm and fluffy right out of the oven. On the evening of Feb. 23, two dozen Muslim and Jewish students savored that pleasure together at an interfaith challah-making event co-hosted by Nishmat and the 7C Muslim Student Association (MSA). Nishmat and MSA organizers emphasized the importance of Jewish-Muslim solidarity amidst Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza.

Read more

Jia Tolentino on navigating joy and transcendence

Jia Tolentino spoke with Kevin Dettmar, director of the Humanities studio, at Pomona College’s Rose Hills Theater on Nov. 9 as part of the ongoing Joy Speaker Series. Tolentino delved into her evolving perspectives on joy, from ecstasy to quieter, simpler joy which she found in motherhood. She spoke about her complicated relationship with organized religion, experiences with transcendence and the intertwining of joy and sorrow. The talk concluded with an exploration of the unknown, as Tolentino emphasized the beauty and significance found in moments of mortality.

Read more

Cutting the stigma: ‘Scissoring’ explores intersections of religion, homosexuality, historical mysteries and self-actualization

The play “Scissoring” features Catholic schoolteachers, the ghost of Eleanor Roosevelt and a heartfelt exploration of the tension between religion and identity.

Read more