Challenges of managing a religiously sensitive environment

Anant Ramachan writes in a Star Tribune Op-Ed Piece about how we can manage and implement environments that are sensitive to people of a variety of religious backgrounds.

In his article, he responds to criticism of St. Paul Region's Hospital for removing a Christian cross from the hospital's chapel. He succinctly summarizes Region's Hospital's challenge by writing: "The motivation is not necessarily concern to avoid offense, but to offer a space that could be meaningfully utilized by people of different religious commitments."

He suggests four solutions, ones that we can easily generalize to all sorts of situations: 1. cease offering any sort of religious accomodation; 2. offer all sorts of religious accomodation; 3. all people of all religions to make desired accomodations; and 4. accomodate needs without including items or symbolism that may make a person from another religious background uncomfortable.

Read through his article and arguments. What do you think? Please post your followup comments.

What in the World is This? (1)

We found this item hanging from the ceiling of a traditional building in Takayama, Gifu-ken. What in the World is This?

The answer:

It is a ball of rice straw (?) constructed once a year and hung inside sake shops. It is a symbol that represents a sake shop, particularly in the olden days. The one in this picture, from an old style street in Takayama, Gifu Perfecture, is huge, maybe five feet in diameter.

Travel: Kyoto Maiko

During Ameeta's and my trip to Japan last November, we spent a couple of days sightseeing in Kyoto. What we did not plan was to share this experience with the throng of Japanese who also decided to make Kyoto their sightseeing destination for an extended Japanese Labor Day weekend.

In any case, we started our touring on the eastern side of Kyoto, taking a bus out to Kiyomizu-dera. We were fortunate to have a beautiful, cool, fall day; the momiji (maple) leaves were prime for viewing, so we enjoyed strolling from one site to another in that area.

As we were climbing up to Kiyomizu-dera, we were surprised to find ourselves following two maiko maiko up the steps.

While it is not uncommon to see an occasional individual or small group of people (usually women) wearing traditional Japanese kimono walking around town, we had not seen anything like this before.

As the day progressed, we ran into several other pairs of maiko. They were happy to oblige having their picture taken with any number of tourists, Japanese and non-Japanese alike, but did not desire to interact or converse.

Wearing traditional Japanese geta, they walked very slowly. So we were surprised when we later saw (and tried to follow) another maiko, this time solo, perhaps running to work. Amazing how fast a person can navigate through a crowd of people wearing geta.

Removal of cross from hospital chapel is sign of inclusion, not political correctness

by Anantanand Rambachan

St. Paul Pioneer Press Op-Ed Piece, Posted on Sun, Dec. 26, 2004

Columnist Joe Soucheray takes issue with St. Paul's Regions Hospital over the decision to remove the cross from its chapel ("What is a chapel with no cross?" Dec. 19).

While one can understand Mr. Soucheray's disapproval of the hospital's action, we also need to be cognizant of the new needs and context to which the hospital is responding.

Our country is the most religiously diverse nation on earth, and our state is rapidly reflecting this reality. Minnesota is home to all of the world's major religions. The story of their arrival and establishment here is now a part of American religious history, and their places of worship have added to our religious geography. Our classrooms, work places, playgrounds, shopping centers and health facilities are some of the important places where we encounter our new neighbors of different faiths and where we are presented with challenges that seek wise and considerate responses.

Many hospitals have traditionally offered sacred spaces to their patients and families. People of faith experience the need, when dealing with suffering occasioned by illness and death, for wisdom, strength and healing through prayer, worship and meditation. They also wish to express gratitude for the blessings of life, and freedom from pain. Hospitals are places where human beings experience uniquely and intensely the duality of life and death.

In religiously homogenous communities, it is expected that such sacred spaces will reflect the symbol and mode of worship of a single tradition and hence the cross and pews in the Regions chapel. Since people of many faith traditions are using our hospitals, it is commendable that a hospital recognizes this fact and seeks to respond by catering to the needs of multi-religious patients and their families. This is the context in which I see the decision of Regions Hospital. The motivation is not necessarily concern to avoid offense, but to offer a space that could be meaningfully utilized by people of different religious commitments.

The desire to pray and worship at significant moments in life is a heartfelt need by people across traditions and not a "game" as sadly construed by Mr. Soucheray.

Hospitals in religiously diverse locations are faced with a variety of options when it comes to providing a traditional sacred space. First, hospitals may decide that the challenges are too complex and cease offering such a space. Such a decision, however, will be a negation of the importance of faith and the religious needs of those for whom the hospitals care. The solution to dealing with multireligious needs is not to cease responding to these needs. A second option, obviously uneconomical and impractical, is to provide a separate space for each community. A third is to allow each community using the space to have their own symbols. Some people, however, will find it uncomfortable and overwhelming to pray in a place where the symbols of other traditions are planted. A fourth option involves the attempt to have a single space that could be utilized by people of different traditions. This is the preference that Regions Hospital seems to be pursuing. It is not without complications, but may be the most promising of possibilities.

One of Mr. Soucheray's principal contentions is that the Regions Hospital place of prayer is designated as a chapel and that a cross in a chapel is entirely appropriate. While few will argue with this, it is also true that the fact of our religious diversity is transforming our religious vocabulary and resulting in a more inclusive use of some traditionally faith-specific terms. Some of our colleges and universities, for example, have Hindu and Muslim chaplains. On the occasions when I offer a prayer to open a session of the Minnesota Senate, I am designated as the chaplain for the day. Language is dynamic and malleable, and the meanings of words change to reflect new social realities. We may also have to search creatively for new words to reflect the shared elements of our religious lives.

The religious symbols of Christianity do not necessarily offend people of other faiths. At the same time, we recognize that living in a multi-faith community requires us to respond compassionately to the needs of our neighbors of other faiths, and this sometimes involves learning to share common sacred spaces.


Rambachan, of Apple Valley, is a member of the Hindu tradition and professor of religion at St. Olaf College in Northfield.


You may also look at the published article.

Japan: Merry Christmas

We found this sign advertising some kind of Christmas Toy at the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Center tower in Shinjuku in November, 2004. It's advertising something called a "Papekko-Pet Christmas Version"

Just Food: Now Open!

Just Food: Northfield Community Co-Op opened its doors to the public December 15, 2004.

Just one day before, after a mad scramble to finish cleaning and stocking shelves, Just Food invited co-op members to a store preview. Northfield.org has great coverage as well as a photo gallery of pictures from the preview.

In a nutshell, what do you need to know?

Just Food offers all sorts of natural and organically grown foods, from produce to soy milk, a variety of vegetarian fare. Yes, even "healthy" junk food. As much as is feasible (which may not be too much during the Minnesota winter time!), Just Food purchases from local producers.

The most common question I hear about the co-op is, "Do I need to be a member to shop?" No, the store is open for everyone. No need to be a member; no need to volunteer time; no need to bring a broom and clean floors.

Just stop by for a look. I hope you enjoy the look of the store, the selection within, and the helpful people throughout. If you do join, you become an owner of the co-op, can be involved in owner decisions, and eventually will receive a patronage refund (some amount of money back based on how much you purchase).