Contact: Michael Bruckner
When it comes to religious diversity on campus, a small liberal arts college in eastern Pennsylvania may be leading the way. Muhlenberg College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but its students have found an open, caring community for members of all denominations.
While the college was founded by Lutherans, today 30 percent of its students are Catholic, 20 percent are Jewish and 10 percent are Lutheran. And, it has a small, but growing Islamic population. Other notes on the college's diversity:
* it is the home of the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding; Muhlenberg was the first Protestant institution to house such a program.
* the College purchased a new Hillel House to accommodate its expanding Jewish population; Israel 2000 is a program to send college students to Israel.
Muhlenberg had more students apply than almost any school in the country, including those 10 times its size, and eight students were accepted in the programs. Its Hillel Director was one of seven directors honored with the Hillel International Award.
* there is a small, but growing Islamic population and the College has provided prayer and meeting space for this group; there was a Koran reading during Baccalaureate ceremonies two years ago.
* Rev. Richard McBrien, a controversial Catholic priest, received an honorary degree and was the Baccalaureate speaker three years ago. Two years ago, the speaker was Bishop John Shelby Spong, a controversial Episcopal minister. This past May, Rev. Calvin Butts, a Baptist minister from Harlem was the Baccalaureate speaker.
* Muhlenberg may be the only Protestant-affiliated college in the country with a Rabbi as chair of its religion department.
This coming year, Richard Reinhold Neibuhr, arguably the greatest living theologian, will be the Baccalaureate speaker and receive an honorary degree.
There is much speculation as to why there is such religious diversity at Muhlenberg, but President Arthur Taylor sums it up best when he says "we are an open, caring and tolerant community. We invite people to question and learn. Most important, however, is that we expect our students to respect others and respect others' beliefs."
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