Mission Statement
The Multi-Faith Space is intended to serve all students, staff and faculty. The space is provided to support the diversity of the University community, within a context of pluralism*. The purposeful absence of any particular religious iconography or symbols is intended to create a more neutral tone.
About
- The Multi-Faith Space is located in the lower level of the Student Centre B-08, beside the Pharmacy.
- The Multi-Faith Space is accessible 7 days a week during the Student Centre hours of operation.
- It is accessible for the use of students, staff and faculty by using your UwinCARD.
Rules and Guidelines
This is a multi-faith space and it is required that you respect the rules, guidelines & rights of all persons, including all faiths, gender & cultures while using the space.
- The maximum capacity of the MFS is 80 people. Overflow of people into the hallway is not permitted.
- No food or beverages are allowed in the MFS.
- The use of fire, including lit candles or incense, is not permitted in the MFS. LED candles are permitted.
- The MFS is to be used for prayer/meditation and religious observances and not as a lounge, study room, meeting room or for other purposes not involved with prayer/meditation. Please respect the requirement for a peaceful, quiet atmosphere.
- Please keep the MFS clean. All personal and group materials are to be removed/stored after use (ex. mats/carpets). Furniture/dividers must remain in the facility and restored to the original positions.
- Footwear/backpacks must remain inside the facility; racks are provided for this purpose.
- A limited number of cabinets are available to recognized faith-based University clubs during the academic year. These are provided for the purpose of storing items such as spiritual books, literature, religious artifacts, etc… Users are responsible for returning items to the cabinet(s) after each use. The Student Centre is not responsible for any items/materials left in the MFS which are lost, stolen or damaged.
- Student Centre management reserves the right to amend, modify or change these rules/guidelines without notice. Questions/concerns may be directed to the General Manager of the Student Centre through the Information Desk scinfodesk@uwindsor.ca.
First, pluralism is not diversity alone, but the energetic engagement with diversity.
Today, religious diversity is a given, but pluralism is not a given; it is an achievement.
Second, pluralism is not just tolerance, but the active seeking of understanding across lines of difference.
Tolerance is a necessary public virtue, but it does not require [groups] to know anything about one another.
Third, pluralism is not relativism, but the encounter of commitments.
The new paradigm of pluralism does not require us to leave our identities and our commitments behind, for pluralism is the encounter of commitments. It means holding our deepest differences, even our religious differences, not in isolation, but in relationship to one another.
Fourth, pluralism is based on dialogue.
The language of pluralism is that of dialogue and encounter, give and take, criticism and self-criticism. Dialogue means both speaking and listening, and that process reveals both common understandings and real differences. Dialogue does not mean everyone at the “table” will agree with one another. Pluralism involves the commitment to being at the table – with one’s commitments.
—Diana L. Eck
Source: The Pluralism Project at Harvard University