Student Affairs
I have been feeling pretty hopeful lately. A year into the pandemic, and now when I tune in to NPR to listen to the latest news, finally there is actually some “good” news. I was even able to see my grandparents for the first time in a year because they were able to be vaccinated. …
One of the greatest experiences of my life was the opportunity to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a volunteer in Russia and Kazakhstan. During that time as a representative of my church, I was able to interact with and be enriched by the religious practices of …
Faith is something very personal for many of us, yet we all think we are right or that have the right interpretation of our religion. In my own family I see that each of us has our own slightly different interpretation of Islam and how to practice it, and I have family and friends who …
The summer after my freshman year of college, I toured the Golden Ring of Russia, a Soviet-era tourist route consisting of a series of medieval cities not far from Moscow. Specifically, my family and I traveled to Vladimir, Suzdal’, Kostroma, Ples, Yaroslavl’, Rostov, and Sergiev Posad: I know most readers of this post won’t be …
One of the most salient parts of becoming an atheist was the restructuring of my timeline. I went from thinking life consisted of a measly 78.54 earth years tacked on to an infinite existence, to life is just 78.54 years. Although I know some religions don’t come with a continued existence, or at least a …
Jews have a very strong connection to Israel. One of our names is “The Children of Israel” because one of our Patriarchs, Jacob, changed his name to Israel. And while the founding of the modern State of Israel was unethical in many ways (and continues to operate in unethical ways), many Jewish people see Israel …
As an Interfaith Fellow, our mission statement claims that we are to “become more knowledgeable about different religious traditions and more skilled at communicating with people from other religious backgrounds.” Herein lies my issue: I sense a tension within this statement. I am conflicted whether fellows should present just their personal beliefs or the beliefs …
Seeing the COVID pandemic unfold through the eyes of the Christian church has troubled me. As we continue to encourage people to vaccinate themselves, I have seen some Christians online claim the vaccine is the “mark of the beast” – a mark which will bar you from the gates of heaven. For example, I have …
Islam is a highly diverse religion with adherents all over the world. In my case, I am the son of two Syrian immigrants who are Sunni Muslim. With Muslims being from all around the world, intersections between culture and religion create slight differences in the way Islam is practiced. For example, Muslims greet each other …
After the fall semester, I was tired. I was tired of quarantine, tired of school, and tired of political debates. I had recently started a new dosage of antidepressants and my body was spent. The medication and the pandemic confined me to the comfort of my bed. Despite my stagnant state, I desperately wanted a …