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Show page 22 lessons, Fail 2004 Appreciating Our Religious Diversity BY JESSICA EVANS When I tell people that I am from Utah, one of the first things they ask me is if I am LDS. This stereotype is heard around the country, the world, and even in popular film and TV shows. While Utah is home to the LDS religion, there are many other religious organizations in the Salt Lake valley, and especially at the University of Utah. The University of Utah campus hosts over 35 different religious groups where people of different religious backgrounds such as Protestant, Catholic, and Muslim, etc., can go to worship and express their faith. These religious groups all seem to have one thing in com- ------------------------------ mon; networking with people of their same background whom they can share ideas and beliefs with. Religious diversity is important because it gives you a better understanding of the world as a whole. It is also important to maintain a sense of religious identity to capture your own sense of individualism.The religious groups on campus are helpful in order for people from different religious ------------------------------ denominations to find each other and worship freely with those of similar faith backgrounds. Although most of the groups focus on their own religion, they welcome students of different faiths to participate in their activities. The Student Interfaith Council promotes diversity and exploration of other religions. This group welcomes Catholic, Islamic, Jewish, LDS, Protestant and many more to take part in monthly activities. The Student Interfaith Council has one main goal, to build community between faith groups. Devan Hite, the program management chair said, "It is nice to feel as if you are a member of your own faith, but interact with others on a religious level." "You can't take culture away from religion, we are respectable, sensible and engaging people with people from other religions" The Student Interfaith Council organizes a hosting series, where each faith takes a turn hosting an event for others. This is a unique way of learning about other members in our community. Hite believes "asking questions and creating dialogue" are key functions of these group activities. This philosophy behind the interfaith mingling can easily be paralleled to higher education. For instance, if you are a communication major yet you take a course in history for self-interest, this does not necessarily mean that you are planning on becoming a history major. It is a way of making you a well-rounded individual. This is the purpose of the Student Interfaith Council, to broaden individual's horizons and build relationships with people from different traditions. Another nondenominational group on campus is Elevation. This group is part of the Assemblies of God organization. The mission of the Assemblies of God is to unite all Christians. Their gatherings are quite different than most religions. The atmosphere is casual and laid back. The activity opened up with a folk song about God, and everyone was singing along and clapping their hands simultaneously. Then, they played a game called the Elevation quiz game where people would answer multiple-choice questions about God and receive prizes. When I asked Christian Hancock, a devout member, why they did this he responded, "To loosen the atmosphere and show people that religion can be fun." Another unique group on campus is the Campus Ambassadors. This group is directed towards international students who are interested in getting involved with a protestant affiliation. The Campus Ambassadors not only participate in activities such as bible studies and social services, they also help foreign students with their English. Bob Nakaoka, the campus director of the Campus Ambassadors, said "our focus is to engage people in culture and religion." This is a main focus of this group, to incorporate God |
