Glass globe captures wandering eyes
The Religious Center welcomes all faiths to its wordly, spiritual sanctuary
Sydney Elliot
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: A&E
The blue glass dome of the Religious Center sticks out sharply against the brown brick of most of the other campus buildings.
Sister Claudia Calzetta, who heads the Catholic Newman Student Union of Campus Ministries, said members of the Religious Center are trying to get the word out to students that the building is for everyone to use, not just denominational groups.
"We are going to try and advertise that all faiths, all denominations are welcome," Calzetta said. "This is not the sole building for one different group, and we are really trying to foster inter-religion (communications)."
Calzetta said it is important for students to know that it is not just Catholics who use the building for worship. Protestant, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentacostal and Native American groups have used the building for worship, as well as Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim groups.
Other services offered in the Religious Center include a multipurpose room anyone can reserve for no charge, a kitchen that has free coffee and the only Coke machine on campus. The building also offers wireless Internet and computers for student use.
Besides religious worship, the World Religion Knowledge and Science Group of Edwardsville has been hosting a series of speakers and lecturers over the last two years. Two years ago, the Metanexus Institute in Pennsylvania provided the a grant, enabling the founding of the WoRKS Group of Edwardsville.
Greg Fields, philosophy professor and WoRKS chair said when WoRKS was first created, monthly programs alternated between community study groups and national religious and scientific speakers to the Religious Center dome.
Last year, WoRKS held discussions focusing on developing strengths for the campus, including sustainability.
"Green is very important right now," Fields said. "We want to continue to reinvigorate Fuller's way of thinking when it is needed."
Alongside sustainability, Fields said WoRKS also wanted to focus on cultural diversity, systems of knowledge, religions and philosophies and ethics. Fields said despite differences between religions, he and the members of WoRKS feel there is "a need for human and environmental well being," which creates a common ground for people to work together to reach a common goal.
Sister Claudia Calzetta, who heads the Catholic Newman Student Union of Campus Ministries, said members of the Religious Center are trying to get the word out to students that the building is for everyone to use, not just denominational groups.
"We are going to try and advertise that all faiths, all denominations are welcome," Calzetta said. "This is not the sole building for one different group, and we are really trying to foster inter-religion (communications)."
Calzetta said it is important for students to know that it is not just Catholics who use the building for worship. Protestant, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentacostal and Native American groups have used the building for worship, as well as Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim groups.
Other services offered in the Religious Center include a multipurpose room anyone can reserve for no charge, a kitchen that has free coffee and the only Coke machine on campus. The building also offers wireless Internet and computers for student use.
Besides religious worship, the World Religion Knowledge and Science Group of Edwardsville has been hosting a series of speakers and lecturers over the last two years. Two years ago, the Metanexus Institute in Pennsylvania provided the a grant, enabling the founding of the WoRKS Group of Edwardsville.
Greg Fields, philosophy professor and WoRKS chair said when WoRKS was first created, monthly programs alternated between community study groups and national religious and scientific speakers to the Religious Center dome.
Last year, WoRKS held discussions focusing on developing strengths for the campus, including sustainability.
"Green is very important right now," Fields said. "We want to continue to reinvigorate Fuller's way of thinking when it is needed."
Alongside sustainability, Fields said WoRKS also wanted to focus on cultural diversity, systems of knowledge, religions and philosophies and ethics. Fields said despite differences between religions, he and the members of WoRKS feel there is "a need for human and environmental well being," which creates a common ground for people to work together to reach a common goal.
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