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The idea of thresholds as pivotal moments in life has long piqued my interest in regards to the study of theology and its associated components. Thresholds hold the opportunity to see what awaits in the future, what is experienced in the present, and what has occurred in the past. Religion, in itself, is a complex …
My childhood was to my life as water is to a plant; every aspect of the bolstering that I received was associated with my upbringing. Peaceful was the smell of cardamom and red chili powder that would ubiquitously waft through the air of our immigrant household. Calming was the pensive silence that would comfort my …
Sunday mornings were always the same in China: people filled silently into a room, locked doors behind them, and some were patrolling the hallway. Occasionally, there would be a police raid, and people would be taken away. I watched people fight for a belief that could ruin their reputation, their family, and their future. Why …
Each year, millions of pilgrims flock to the world’s largest public gathering in Karbala, Iraq – the Arbaeen walk. Traveling entirely by foot, the 80 kilometer trek takes almost three days and commemorates 40 days (Arbaeen) after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S.), a 7th century social justice leader who sacrificed his life in the …
I suppose I’ll write the story of why I am becoming a Catholic. I grew up in a Hindu household and can recall my earliest notions of God. His presence was never a question for me, I recall fearing his judgment greatly. I accepted the existence of God with all the innocence of a child. …
Summer has officially ended, and the fall semester is underway. As a new academic year begins, I cannot help but reflect on the past year. The year was full of academic wins, personal successes, and lots of great memories with friends and family. Despite these wins, however, it is hard to ignore the unsettled, restless, …
Before I could read, I enjoyed going to my family’s church every Sunday and staring at the stained glass on the tall, otherwise cream-colored stucco walls. I especially loved the 10:30 service, when the sun would shine through the heart of St. Sebastian just right to cast beautiful rainbow patches on the walls and ornately …
When I learned that I would have an opportunity to attend an overnight, contemplative retreat as part of this fellowship, I knew immediately that I would jump at that chance. Even though it seemed a little inadvisable to take a break from studying and miss one day of classes right before midterms, I felt okay …
It is a commonly held notion that science is the antithesis of religion. The two are regarded as so inherently contradictory that being religious and simultaneously thinking scientifically is believed to be impossible. Where did this belief come from, and how has it persisted through many generations? Was it the Enlightenment – the great “Age …
My identification with my faith has always been tied up with my two grandmothers. Both of them were, and are, devout Catholics. My maternal grandmother died when I was a baby but when my mom tells me about her she always mentions how important her Catholic faith was to Grandma Theresa. Growing up, my mom …