On Wednesday, March 22nd, students, professors, faith leaders, and members of the greater Montreal community gathered together for a Colloquium on the Spirituality of Young People. The colloquium was organized in collaboration with the School of Religious Studies, with MORSL director Carlene Gardner and Dr. Gerbern Oegema, Professor of Biblical studies offering opening remarks and co-facilitating the talks and panel that followed.
Despite being an event centered on young people’s spirituality, the colloquium was attended by those of all ages. We sat scattered in the pews of Birks Chapel in trios and pairs; others wandered in throughout the day, joining spontaneously and listening intently to the ongoing discussion. In the spirit of multi-faith fellowship, speakers of diverse affiliations occupied the Chapel’s pulpit. With great humility, each presenter shared remarks about young adult spirituality and their influence on the character of community life.
On the topic of whether spirituality is a private matter, Rev. Susan Brasier, from the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, shared her experiences working within the legal field and ministry. In recounting her own call to ministry, Rev. Brasier reflected on how her experiences as an attorney and clergywomen underpin her commitment to social justice. She stressed the role Churches can play in building community as a material and spiritual haven for young people.
Then, Rabba Rachel Finegold from the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue also focused on the soul’s desire for connection, not only to a higher power, but also with other human beings. She explored emerging virtual and in-person approaches to building relationships among Jewish young adults. Rabba Finegold was optimistic about technology’s role in mediating spiritual and religious practice; the internet and social media offer a radically communal space for deep connection, lively discussion, and spiritual search.
Later, Prof. Rongdao Lai from McGill’s School of Religious Studies tackled the topics of doubt, search, and understanding from a Buddhist perspective. Throughout her talk, Prof. Lai illuminated the connections between philosophical, academic, and religious understandings of her faith. Acknowledging young people’s attraction to Buddhist spirituality and meditation, she encouraged participants to delve more deeply into Buddhism as a living religion, practiced across the world.
Then, Mr. Ahmed Abdelwahhab from the Canadian Institute of Islamic Civilization gave a brief presentation on community life and spiritual identity. After giving a brief overview of Islamic life, he explained how each of the pillars of Islam connects young people to a global community of Muslims. Prayer and fasting are at once deeply personal and communal practices that bind together friends, family, and strangers alike.
Following the speakers’ presentations, we had the chance to get to know one another over lunch. Questions and reflections sparked by the morning’s presentations continued into the afternoon, when participants headed back to the chapel for a student panel, composed of young people of many faiths and spiritualties (Pagan, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Baha’i). The panel discussion was an honest, open conversation between young people invested in building multi-faith bonds of friendship and solidarity. Rather than representing a particular faith, panelists felt comfortable expressing their hopes and challenges as students of faith. Over the course of the panel, students shared a common belief that youth is an important season of life, during which our spiritual needs become clearer and our longing to express our spirituality alongside others grows.
