• spiritual students
Fish Interfaith Center

Spiritual But Not Religious Students

» Spiritual But Not Religious Students

Chapman emphasizes spiritual exploration as part of our core values. This includes students who identify as spiritual but not religious. You are encouraged to use these resources to connect with your inner self and find a community that nurtures your spiritual development!

Spiritualityspiritual-students-outside-1.jpg

Spirituality involves examining and understanding the values, ethics, and beliefs that guide our self-worth and decisions. Cultivating spirituality provides us with a sense of meaning and purpose and allows us to find strength in adversity.

While often associated with religious beliefs and practices, spirituality exists independently of organized religion.

 

 

Fish Interfaith Center resourcesspiritual-labyrinth-1.jpg

The Fish Interfaith Center at Chapman offers support and inspiration to every student through spiritual groups and programming during the Orange Campus semesters, including:

  • Julie Artman’s Mindfulness Education: Mindfulness is a meditation practice. You will learn tools of self-awareness for living with stress and gain greater compassion for yourself and others.
  • Labyrinth Walks: On Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a canvas labyrinth is open in Wallace All Faiths Chapel for private meditation. 
  • Sound Healing: Once a month on Mondays at 6 p.m., Sound Healing offers a meditation space in Wallace All Faiths Chapel. Participants may lie on the floor or sit in a chair. Also, the labyrinth is available during Sound Healing.
  • Talk with a Chaplain: Chapman has chaplains from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions who are also very open to talking to spiritual but not religious students, respecting the student’s worldview. Contact interfaith@chapman.edu.

Rinker Campus

  • Prayer and meditation room: Located on the second floor of the Campus Center for students to use as needed for spiritual and meditation practices. The adjacent wellness room provides a multipurpose space for facilitated group yoga and mindfulness classes as well as open hours for everyone to decompress from class and work.
  • Talk with a Chaplain: To make an in person or virtual appointment, contact interfaith@chapman.edu.
Tikva Velazquez '23
Television writing and production major; English minor
“Raised in the Jewish faith, my exposure to other spiritual practices was limited. Working at the Fish Interfaith Center broadened my understanding of spirituality as a whole. Each day built on the understanding that there is so much outside of my individual worldview.”

Clubs and organizationsspiritual-mural-1.jpg

  • Q Spirit: Supports LGBTQIA+ students around the intersection of their queer identities and experiences with religion and spirituality. 

Students can also learn about and join clubs in person at the Student Involvement Fair, which takes place once every semester.

Willoh Tyler ‘24
Creative writing major; Game development programming minor
"Q Spirit is there for people like me who don’t know their relationship with religion. We’re finding our footing in our relation to organized or individual spirituality. I like that I’m not expected to choose or have a spiritual label; I’m just freely engaging and expressing ideas related to faith.”