Multi-Faith / Meditation Room Serenity Procedure and Guidance on Religious Articles and Dress

Transcription

1 Author: Learner Services Manager (Wider Curriculum) Date Reviewed: August 2014 Category: Public Multi-Faith / Meditation Room Serenity Procedure and Guidance on Religious Articles and Dress 1. Multi-Faith/Meditation Facility Specific Faith Communities Resources Friends Of The College Specific Religious Ceremonies Multi-Faith Network Guidance on dress and religious articles... 3 IMPACT ASSESSED: 30 January 2009 Multi-Faith / Meditation Room Procedure Page 1 of 5

2 1. MULTI-FAITH/MEDITATION FACILITY 1.1 The Multi-faith/Meditation Room is a facility available for all students and staff of any belief or non-belief philosophy. 1.2 It is not a facility for homework, research or social activity. It is a space set aside for those of faith, belief systems or non-belief, who wish to engage in prayer, meditation or quiet reflection. 1.3 Access to the area will be through request to Learner Services and contact will need to be made to the Learner Services Manager Wider Curriculum in the first instance. 1.4 Requests for specific reservations for prayer routines will be considered by the Multi-faith Network Team. 1.5 The College provides a multi-faith/meditation room for all staff and students to use irrespective of belief or non-belief philosophies. 1.6 The College will ensure that at peak times the room is available for quiet prayer or meditation. 1.7 Specific requests by faith groups must be referred to the Learner Services Manager Wider Curriculum, as the College will need to ensure that these sessions do not occupy the room at peak times. 2. SPECIFIC FAITH COMMUNITIES 2.1 Where specific faith communities have booked the use of the room, Learner Services Manager Wider Curriculum will ensure that the space and facilities are appropriate. 2.2 Sensitivity to faith objects or resources will be adhered to at all times. 2.3 Specific faith objects and resources will be stored in a secure cabinet within the room. The key will be available from the Learner Services Manager Wider Curriculum who will be responsible for ensuring that all objects and resources are returned to the cupboard at the end of the session. 2.4 The room will have appropriate signage on display for Jerusalem and Mecca. 2.5 The washing facilities are adjacent to the room where required by specific faiths. There will be provision for the storage of shoes if required prior to prayer. 2.6 A curtain is available to partition the room in respect of some faith traditions. 3 RESOURCES 3.1 The room has allocated storage for resources in respect of particular faiths: Multi-Faith / Meditation Room Procedure Page 2 of 5

3 Christianity: Hinduism: Judaism: Islam: Sikhism: Bible, Crucifix Aum, Shrine Set Tenakh, Kippah, Use of segregation curtain Prayer mat, Qu ran (Qu ran to be stored in a high place), Qu ran stand. Tasbih Ik Onkar, Guran Nanak statue, Nitnem (The 5 K s, Kara, comb, Kirpan, Kacchera etc are not supplied) 3.2 All resources will be kept in storage within the room and users will be responsible for booking items out and for returning items to the cupboard. 4 FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE The College has contacts with local faiths and these contacts are listed in the Multi-Faith Leaflet which is available on reception, and in Learner Services. 5 SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES Where staff or students require to use the room for particular festivals this will need to be negotiated with the Learner Services Manager Wider Curriculum, so that the room is not in use at general peak times. If necessary, a separate room will be provided for festivals which will require use of the room at peak times. 6 MULTI-FAITH NETWORK The Network will consist of: Learner Services Manager Wider Curriculum Students Volunteers from staff members Members of Faith Communities The Network will meet termly 7 GUIDANCE ON DRESS AND RELIGIOUS ARTICLES 7.1 KIRPAN: The wearing of the Kirpan (symbol of truth) in the Sikh religion is acknowledged by the College, however for College safety purposes, it is considered that a small replica or symbols worn around the neck would be more appropriate. If you wish to wear the full dagger, this must be under clothing, not in view or on display and agreed with Learner Services in line Multi-Faith / Meditation Room Procedure Page 3 of 5

4 with the Criminal Justice Act This will only be allowed for identified religious reasons (Sikhism) in line w3ith guidance from Equality and Human Rights /commission. Wearers should ensure they speak to the Learner Services Manager Wider Curriculum or Assistant Principal in Learner Services in the first instance. Religion or belief Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Judaism Rastafarianism Sikhism Dress and/or appearance requirements Many Buddhists believe in non-harm to self and to others and may not wear products made from leather, e.g. leather shoes or leather clothing as this goes against their beliefs. Some Christian churches ban the use of cosmetics and require female members to dress modestly. Some Christians wear the symbol of the cross as part of their belief, often worn on a necklace or displayed on another part of their body. Some may also wear the sign of a fish. Many Hindus wear a red spot (tilak or bindi) on their forehead. Many married Hindu women wear a necklace (mangal sutra) which is placed around their necks during the wedding ceremony, in addition to a wedding ring. A few Orthodox Hindu men wear a small tuft of hair (shikha), which is similar to a ponytail which is often hidden beneath remaining hair and may also wear a clay marking on their foreheads. Hindus may also wear a kanthi mala/kanthi - a piece of necklace around their necks. Muslims are required to cover their bodies and may therefore be unwilling to wear shorts or skirts. Many Muslim women will wish to wear a hijab to cover everything and only display their hands and face, or a niqab (face veil); a combination of a head covering and scarf, or a one piece scarf that covers everything but the eyes. Muslim men may wear a beard. Orthodox Jewish women are required to dress modestly and may not wish to wear trousers, short skirts or shortsleeved clothing and wear a wig (sheitle) to cover their hair. Orthodox Jewish men keep their hair covered at all times. Rastafarians wear their uncut hair in dreadlocks, often covered by a red, green and gold hat. Practising Sikh men observe the five Ks: - uncut hair. Hair is not cut or removed from their body. Multi-Faith / Meditation Room Procedure Page 4 of 5

5 - wooden comb is usually worn in the hair. - metal bangle worn on the wrist. - symbolic short dagger worn under the clothing so it is not visible. - knee-length loose undershorts with a tie-knot. Zoroastrian Both male and female Zoroastrians wear two pieces of Sacred clothing. The Sudreh (shirt) and the Kusti (cord) a string which passes loosely around the waist three times and is tied in a double knot at the back. The kusti is retied each time the hands are washed. Terminology: Aum: Symbol supreme power, Tenakh: Hebrew/English Bible. Kippah: Skull cap, Tasbih: prayer beads, Ik Onkar: one god symbol, Nitnem: holy writings, Kirpan: Symbolic dagger Multi-Faith / Meditation Room Procedure Page 5 of 5