Pluralism Week 2018

Open Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 7:00pm 

The Faith and Spirituality Centre space (MSC 373) will transform into the Pluralism Hub for the duration of the week. Drop in for dialogues about how to create a more pluralistic campus community, to get to know our chaplains and staff, games, snacks and more!

Date Time Location Monday, March 12th 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. The Loft, MSC 487

Blanket Exercise - CANCELLED

The KAIROS Blanket Exercise is an interactive learning experience that teaches the Indigenous rights history we’re rarely taught. 

Blanket Exercise participants take on the roles of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Standing on blankets that represent the land, they walk through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. They are directed by facilitators representing a narrator (or narrators) and the European colonizers. Participants are drawn into the experience by reading scrolls and carrying cards which ultimately determine their outcomes. By engaging on an emotional and intellectual level, the Blanket Exercise effectively educates and increases empathy. Ideally, the exercise is followed by a debriefing session in which participants have the opportunity to discuss the experience as a group. This often takes the form of a talking circle.

Register here

Thursday, March 15th 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Firmitas B, Vitruvian Space, DC 12

Intercultural Conflict Styles

Whenever misunderstanding, misperception or hostility occurs, how we communicate our disagreements and frustrations can escalate tensions and make conflict resolution more difficult. The Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory provides insight into culturally patterned approaches for solving problems and resolving conflict situations.

As part of this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to learn their own conflict style and gain insight into improving communication across the various conflict styles in everyday interactions (with students, co-workers, etc.)

Register here

Date Time Location Monday, March 12th 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. The Loft, MSC 487

Service Day

Join the Graduate Students' Association and the Faith and Spirituality Centre in making peanut butter and jam sandwiches for the drop-in centre! 

Date Time Location Tuesday, March 13th - Thursday, March 15th 9:00 - 4:00 p.m. South Courtyard, MSC

"What I Be" Photo Exhibition

The “What I Be Project” is a social experiment turned into, what is now, a global movement about honesty and empowerment. In today’s society, we are often told to look or act a certain way. If we differ from these “standards,” we are often judged, ridiculed, bullied and sometimes even killed over them. I started this project in hopes to open up the lines of communication, and to help everyone accept diversity with an open mind & heart and empower those who feel they suffer for something they may see as a flaw.

Sponsored in partnership with the Students' Union

Tuesday, March 13th - Thursday, March 15th 9:00 - 4:00 p.m. South Courtyard, MSC

Canadian Jewish Experience Display

Jews have lived in Canada for nearly 250 years. Our numbers were few at first, but grew with immigration. Our entry was not easy. Canada until the 1960s had professional, educational and immigration barriers – and prejudices – targeting Jews. Happily, things have changed. Now nearly 400,000 Jewish people live in all Provinces and Territories in Canada, especially Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver. This amazing Exhibition, prepared by volunteers and funded by private donations, presents a powerful sample of Jewish contributions to our country. Like every ethnic group of Canadians, we feel blessed to live in peace with our neighbours, learning from the past and building a better future for all.

Sponsored in partnership with the Students' Union

Wednesday, March 14th 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. That Empty Space, MSC

Open Mic Night

Join us for an open mic night hosted by the Faith and Spirituality Centre student team and the Gig Club. Drop-in anytime!

Date Time Location Monday, March 12th 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Women's Resource Centre, MSC 482

The Varieties of Iranian Feminism

There are disagreements among Iranian women academics/activists over how to approach Feminism and pursue feminist activism in the context of a self proclaimed Islamic government and a religious society, and this leads to Iranian feminism having a variety of flavours. One side of the spectrum is often labelled idealist and impractical, while the other is labelled oxymoronic and hypocritical. In this talk we attempt to review and crystallize the core issues and questions at the heart of this debate, much of which revolve around the relationship between Islam and feminism.

Safaneh Mohaghegh Neyshabouri is a PhD candidate in Comparative Literature at the University of Alberta. She is an associate editor at the Parsagon Review, and a recipient of the Houtan Foundation scholarship. Her research focuses on the life writing of Iranian women as a socio-political force. Her interests include life writing studies, women and gender studies and Middle Eastern studies. She teaches Islam and Feminism at the University of Calgary.

All are welcome; light refreshments will be provided.

Tuesday, March 13th 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Faith & Spirituality Centre, MSC 373

Food for Thought

Join us as we host a communal vegan, gluten-free meal and discuss things that affect us as a community. Topic: experiencing religion.

Register here

Date Time Location Wednesday, March 14th 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Faith & Spirituality Centre, MSC 373

Wisdom Wednesday

Join us as we listen to a special guest's story of their journey with faith. Hosted by a different chaplain/representative  every month! Bring you lunch and questions, we will bring dessert!

Guest speaker: Nima Macci

Friday, March 16th 5:00 p.m. ST 147

An Evening with Reginald Bibby

Toward Enhancing Social Life: The Current Contributions of the Pro Religious, Low Religious, and No Religious

Everywhere in the world people are embracing religion, rejecting it or taking a middle positon. How can the presence and absence of faith coexist for the betterment of us all, nwo that it's clear these varied inclinations will always be with us? In this presentation, Reginald Bibby draws on some important recent national surveys to give us an up-to-date reading on the impact in Canada of people being "pro religious" "low religious," and "no religious." Reginald Bibby is Professor of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Lethbridge.

This is event is presented in partnership with the Department of Classics and religion and funded by the Department of Classics and Religion, the Faculty of Arts, and the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic).