Belief and Belonging at Dartmouth College
Six students at Dartmouth College took part in an Interfaith Photovoice project about belief and belonging on campus in 2024, culminating in an exhibit that opened Tuesday, February 20th. Students, faculty, and community members of all sorts stopped by to hear and see the stories of the participants related to their experiences of flourishing (and not) on campus as religious/spiritual individuals from a variety of backgrounds including Buddhist, Muslim, Sikh, and Orthodox Christian.
Process photos credit: Katie Lenhart
"It is unfair to treat our faith as stale and lifeless. We are allowed to take ourselves less seriously... and raisins." - Gracie
"The joy of making tea and a meal for someone is what matters. Especially when it’s followed by a conversation in the company of good books." - Gracie
"Faith in the wrong hands can trample human brotherhood in the dust. Compassion tames clenched fists." - Gracie
"Think of all those who can’t take part. And venture into the basement corner to care for them." - Gracie
"This photo was taken during a spontaneous conversation we had one night. It was magical how there are peers who are also interested in their own worldviews." - Andrew
"Increasing access will widen our circles. It’s no crystal staircase, but we climb in good company." - Gracie
"Gathering around a common table with good food is and always will be enough. Tradition and memory tie us together." - Gracie
"This photo was taken during my first prayer session at Dartmouth. It expresses my sense of loneliness as a Buddhist while trying to practice it as a minority religion." - Andrew
"This photo describes my feeling of holy envy for other faiths. Sometimes I think that Buddhism’s “DIY” journey to enlightenment is daunting and I’d rather get it over with in this life." - Andrew
"When I went home for a weekend this term, I brought back some vegetarian food that can be easily made into a meal. There are options like this on campus, but they are slim." - Lily
"Looking down West Wheelock Street, towards the Connecticut River, and beyond it, Interstate 91, I see the distance between me and my place of worship as the long highway it takes to get there." - Nico
"Rollins Chapel is the spiritual surrogate home of several faith groups on campus, including my own. Having this shared space feels to me like the ideal of pluralism -- many creeds in one space." - Nico
"Community is in lots of strange places! In late January, 80 New Englanders who enjoy speed-solving Rubik’s Cubes came together at The Battle of Lexington 2024 to share each other’s company and compete for the best times." - Nico
"This scene is what greets newcomers to the radio station on the 3rd floor of Robinson Hall. What initially seems like a couple of simple rooms quickly becomes a safe, fun space for exploration and experimentation with radio and alternative forms of communication." - Nico
"This is a photo of an excerpt of my Google Calendar. It shows my busy schedule and attempt at juggling all of that while keeping my faith alive." - Andrew
"This is a photo of a poster outside of my room on the 4th floor of Rauner. Seeing it when I first arrived on campus made me feel welcome at the campus community." - Jeremiah
"I took this photo at 9pm just as FOCO was closing - it was really quiet and calming, and it made me consider the calmness and community that FOCO provides." - Jeremiah
"This photo depicts a snowstorm over campus that occurred roughly a month ago near the start of winter term." - Jeremiah
"An idea that came to the forefront of my mind during this project was using residential spaces intentionally. This room on the floor of my residence hall could be a space for meditation, prayer, or yoga." - Lily
"The stained glass window in this mosque reminded me of some churches within my own Christian tradition. It’s little similarities and gestures like this that can build bridges between different faith communities." - Lily
'Beauty will save the world' ~ Dostoevsky "I find meaning and beauty in the night sky. I think that we lives in the ingratitude of the beauty around us. If we just stop and look even a little beyond our own selfish obsessions of life, we will find beauty too mesmerizing to comprehend. Witnessing that level of beauty is truly a spiritual experience." - Ahmad
"An intricately woven prayer mat used by Muslims for daily prayers." - Ahmad
"An exquisite portrayal of the opening verses of the Qur’an, the foundational words that initiated the divine guidance for humanity. I wanted to submit a photo of the Quran and I was very confused. Then I realized that no matter what I submit, it would be equally as good so I picked the first few verses describing God’s qualities and by extension all the values Muslims hold to be the highest." - Ahmad
