Welcome to the Office for Religious Life

Our Mission

“To guide, nurture and enhance spiritual, religious and ethical life within the Stanford University community.”

We are collectively committed and devoted to ensuring lively, thoughtful and supportive contexts for Stanford students, faculty and staff who wish to pursue spiritual interests. We recognize that a spiritual/religious journey can be an important, balancing complement to the numerous challenges one faces in the pursuit of academic and career goals.

While each one of us participates in and leads worship and study in her/his own religious traditions, our primary objective as a staff is to collaborate as a multi-faith team and work with all constituents of this dynamic university.

Our aim is to promote enriching dialogue, meaningful ritual, and enduring friendships among people of all religious backgrounds.

• Anna Deavere Smith

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  On October 21, 2015, Anna Deavere Smith performed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, at Memorial Church.

• Jack Kornfield

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  On November 10, 2015 Jack Kornfield delivered a lecture on Inner Strength & Kindness: Practices for a Wise Life, at Memorial Church.

• Vernon E. Jordan Jr., 2015 Baccalaureate Speaker

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  June 13, 2015. Photo by L.A. Cicero.

• Investiture Ceremony of Dean Jane Shaw

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  (Photo by L.A. Cicero)

• Oprah Winfrey - 2015 Rathbun Visiting Fellow

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  In April, Oprah Winfrey delivered Harry's Last Lecture on a Meaningful Life. (Photo by L.A. Cicero)

• Windhover

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  Windhover, a spiritual refuge on the Stanford campus, is intended for quiet reflection for any Stanford student, faculty, or staff member.

• Palm Drive

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  Stanford Memorial Church stands at the center of the campus, and is the University’s architectural crown jewel.

• CIRCLE Sanctuary

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  The Sanctuary in the Center for Inter-Religious Community, Learning and Experiences on the third floor of Old Union.