Religious and spiritual life
Earlham is made up of people of various faiths and religious practices and people of no religious faith. On our campus, you have opportunities to experience Quaker silence, Muslim prayer, Jewish Shabbat dinners, Christian Bible study and mindfulness meditation, among other rituals and traditions. We strive to cultivate a community shaped by our rootedness in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) that is open and hospitable to all.
Earlham is a crossroads college. We are a meeting place for different religious beliefs and practices that is constituted by four overlapping communities:
- A Quaker community
- A multi-faith community
- A rational community
- A community of dialogue
Students come to the Office of Religious Life for support in differing ways: Some come seeking a deeper connection with their faith traditions, others seek to explore alternative spiritual paths, and still others need assistance discerning the inner foundations of their outward commitments. Come talk to us!
Academics
Students who wish to study religion have multiple options at Earlham. Undergraduates can pursue coursework in Jewish Studies and Religion, and the Earlham School of Religion offers graduate programs in divinity, ministry and more.
Newlin Quaker Center
The Newlin Quaker Center aims to identify and prepare young Quaker leaders, nurture Quaker scholarship and dialogue on campus, and provide members of the Earlham and wider communities with information about the Religious Society of Friends and Earlham’s living Quaker character. More broadly, the Center aims to promote conversation and cooperation among Friends, and to provide a gathering place for Friends of all sorts.
OUR SERVICES AND RESOURCES
Pastoral care and conflict resolution
The staff of Earlham’s Office of Religious Life are available to the Earlham community for emotional, social and spiritual support. We offer safe, empathetic listening to both individuals and groups on a wide range of topics including: identity formation, grief and loss, vocational discernment, healthy relationships, spiritual/religious beliefs, and informal conflict resolution and problem-solving services. We also serve as a confidential resource on topics involving sexual violence and sexual harassment.
In addition, we can help those in need of conflict resolution and problem-solving services. Our office may serve as a sounding board. We try to help you identify and choose potential actions you might take to address your issues. We often can identify campus resources for resolving or addressing a problematic issue. We can also serve as mediators or engage in shuttle diplomacy between parties in conflict.
When scheduling an appointment online, you have the opportunity to indicate your preference of an in-person or virtual session, which staff member you would like to see, and when you are available for sessions. We will follow up with you to schedule the appointment.
More information and resources
The Office of Religious Life supports and encourages students by providing guidance in contemplative inquiry, opportunities for dialogue, sponsoring celebratory communal events, and supporting opportunities that enable students to put their most cherished beliefs into daily practice.