A chaplain to those with no religious affiliation
With at least one-in-five adults and one-in-three students-under-30 claiming no religious affiliation, more and more people are citing a lack of affiliation as their religious identity. 75 per cent of these individuals grew up with a religious background that they eventually moved away from, while 88 per cent are not even interested in religion at all.
I’m here to help [students] explore spirituality based on values like goodness and compassion.
Universities and institutions are in need of religious officials who understand these shifting demographics. Keith Martin is one such chaplain for a new age.
Quick to point out the contradiction in his title, the nonreligious chaplain’s goal isn’t to spread the word of God, but to help students achieve spirituality without pledging allegiance to an organized religion.
“I’m here to assist students who are, or want to be, spiritual but not necessarily religious,” explained Martin in an interview with The Ontarion.
The University of Guelph welcomed Martin as an affiliate chaplain on Aug. 25, 2014, and as a full team member of the Multi-Faith Resource Team on Sept. 18, 2014.
“I call myself a chaplain to the ‘nones,’” explained Chaplain Martin. “I believe spirituality is about having good values, not what beliefs you hold. I’m here to help students adhere to life-enhancing values found in the enduring religions of the world without having to embrace religious doctrines.”
To Chaplain Martin, a belief in God is more than just a belief in an all-powerful entity. It’s about believing in life, love, and goodness.
“I’m here to help [students] explore spirituality based on values like goodness and compassion,” added Martin.
Part of the University’s Multi-Faith Resource Team, Chaplain Martin is also a published author. Touching upon the subject of faith and belief, Martin recently published Seismic Shift: From God to Goodness, where he describes his journey from belief in God as a higher being, to God as a higher ideal.
“If God is a metaphor for, or personification of, life, love, and goodness, I concluded that spirituality is not about using the right God words…but about longing for and bringing goodness into our world, without which life and relationships don’t work,” said Martin.
Director of the non-profit, registered charity Spectrum Artistic and Educational Media, Chaplain Martin is also part of the Multi-Faith Resource Team at the University of Waterloo. He explains that he was drawn to the University of Guelph after he read former President Alastair Summerlee’s words in the 2014 U of G Handbook.
“I am impressed with how the university has incorporated the Multi-Faith Resource Team into Student Life, under the Office of Intercultural Affairs,” said Martin. “At first, I thought that was an odd combination, until I realized my own spiritual journey – like so many others – has been a cross-cultural experience.”
Students seeking advice or guidance can find Chaplain Martin in Raithby House, in Room 201. He has hours there on Wednesdays, from 12 to 5 p.m. “Students can drop in and chat, or book an appointment if I’m [not there],” concluded Martin.