“Claiming a Role in the Search for a Meaningful Spirituality”
Note: The following interview appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of The Occasional Papers of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. It is reproduced here in its entirety.
Fetzer Institute Appoints Steven Harris as Vice President of Ecosystem Transformation
Kalamazoo, Michigan, July 8, 2024 — The Fetzer Institute announces the appointment of Steven Harris as vice president, ecosystem transformation, effective July 15. In this new role, he will lead the Institute’s work in select sectors or “ecosystems” to center the sacred and bring spiritual solutions to some of our society’s greatest challenges. Harris will also join the Institute’s leadership team.
Sparking Religious Curiosity in Today’s Youth
No one can prepare you for the type of grief that comes with losing a parent at an early age. Yet, I discovered a silver lining in the process: a deeper understanding of my faith.
Don’t get me wrong: there were plenty of moments when I was upset with God, and I had a lot to say to Him. Yet, that confusion and that pain made me believe in something bigger than myself. I felt comfort in knowing I wasn’t alone, but when I looked around at people my age, I still felt isolated and different.
A Journey Through Fog: Spiritual Solidarity in a Secular World
In the cold embrace of a winter evening in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a moment of unexpected clarity emerged from the mist, not just the literal fog that disrupted my travel plans but also the metaphorical haze that often separates our personal and professional lives. I was en route to New York City to honor a dear mentor at his memorial service, when my journey unexpectedly became a profound lesson in the power of spirituality and the beauty of human connection.
On Realistic Hope: A Reflection on Advent, Diwali, and Hanukkah
“Every spiritual journey is a pilgrimage, an exercise in anticipation and hope.” — Image Journal, “Every Breath a Birth”
The closing months of the year often come with mixed emotions. Although this season is typically marketed as joyful and filled with cheer, gratitude, and connection, our lived reality likely resembles something different.
What Does Spirituality Mean to Us? A Study of Spirituality in the United States Since COVID
This continuation of the Study of Spirituality in the United States builds on the initial study conducted in 2020. Using the original questionnaire, this updated version includes new items seeking to uncover any shifts in how we, in the United States, articulate and embody our faith and spirituality, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defying Darkness: Love's Radical Rebellion Against Global Discord
In the midst of the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas, it’s hard to make heads or tails of religion. The situation is complex and multifaceted, with faith playing only a part. But before jumping to the conclusion that humanity would be better off without religion, we must raise a crucial question. How can the underlying source of light within all of the world’s great faith and spiritual traditions be maintained in times of such brutality and darkness?
Civic Friendship in Jewish Thought
Recently, the Fetzer Institute had the honor of interviewing our partner, Dr. Shira Billet from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). Dr. Billet's research focuses on the beginnings of modern Jewish philosophy and its place within the history of philosophy, especially ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of religion.
Spiritual Solutions for Political Flourishing
In the midst of the prevailing division, polarization, and self-interest in public life, the Fetzer Institute is asking: how can we live a better version of our civic lives?
In Service of Love and Justice in the Black Church: A Conversation with Dr. Jacqueline Rivers
The Fetzer Institute recently had the privilege of speaking with partner Dr. Jacqueline Rivers, the executive director of the Seymour Institute for Black Church and Policy Studies, which focuses on exploring the relationship between religion, particularly within the Black church tradition, and public life. Collaborating with ecumenical Black church leaders, Dr. Rivers advocates for a civic love ethic inspired by Dr. King, that transcends political binaries. Dr.