Religious spaces provide sanctuary for students

[rug]

A meeting space inside the Center for Inter-Religious Community, Learning and Experiences (CIRCLE).
(SAM GIRVIN/The Stanford Daily)

January 31, 2014
By Chelsey Sveinsson

Wood paneling decorates the Center for Inter-Religious Community, Learning and Experiences (CIRCLE)’s sanctuary room, which is flooded with natural sunlight spilling into the room through the sanctuary’s wide windows. While the room has an air of spirituality that is both comforting and respectful, what truly marks the space as a home for inter-religious community, learning and experiences, however, are the banners hanging on the Sanctuary’s six pillars representing six popular world religions: Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Baha’i and Judaism.

CIRCLE, which opened in 2007, serves as a home and a sanctuary for 35 Stanford Associated Religions (SAR) groups. Students can relax in the spacious lounge, study in CIRCLE’s religious library and even cook in CIRCLE’s kitchen, all of which are located on the third floor of Old Union. CIRCLE also offers gender-specific wudu stations, where both Muslim men and women can wash their feet prior to entering the sanctuary for prayer.

“It is a place where people from many different traditions can literally rub elbows and move around in the same space with each other,” said Dean of Religious Life Scotty McLennan. He noted that CIRCLE hosts both multi-faith activities as well as activities specific to certain religious traditions.

Nausheen Mahmood ‘14, vice president of the Islamic Society of Stanford University, said she uses the CIRCLE often, mostly for its private office where Muslim students can go in and pray throughout the day and the Sanctuary where they hold Friday prayer.

http://www.stanforddaily.com/2014/01/31/religious-spaces-provide-sanctuary-for-students/

http://www.stanford.edu/group/religiouslife/cgi-bin/wordpress/students/circle/