SMC sponsors religion forum
By MELANIE BECKER
News Writer
In order to increase religious awareness on campus during the holiday season, the Student Diversity Board (SDB) hosted a forum on major world religions in the Haggar College Center last night.
"This was to provide awareness of other religions, some knowledge and to erase some misconceptions and stereotypes," SDB spirituality representative Anita Doherty said.
A panel of students, faculty and staff represented six religions.
Johnea Brooks De-Vitta, senior humanistic studies major spoke about Baha'i and its origins. Founded in Persia during the mid-19th century, followers of Baha'i believe that there is one God who created all messengers, or prophets to guide individual search for faith during times of spiritual crisis. De-Vitta explained there are several obligatory prayers but little ritual in Baha'i and that there are 19 days of fasting during sunlight hours in March.
Cindy Mongrain, a member of Campus Ministry presented Roman Catholicism and described the ritual practices and sacraments of Catholics. Catholicism is a faith community that believes the end of life to be the beginning of a new life, Mongrain said.
"We believe kind of outrageous things when we think about it, our God became human," Mongrain said.
Doherty, spoke of her experiences of being brought up as a Presbyterian whose family was unable to find a Presbyterian Church in southern Indiana and joined a United Methodist Congregation. The congregation was founded in 1968 with the principles of abstaining from alcohol, illegal drugs, gambling and tobacco. They attend services that last from one and a half to two hours, receive communion once a month and have male and female pastors.
"A lot of times Christians will move into different denomination [of Christianity] to find the practice that fit their beliefs," Doherty explained.
Junior Nila Ahmad, SDB vice-president, represented Islam and explained how it is practiced in daily life.
The six core beliefs of Islam are that there is one God, belief in all prophets of all religions, belief in religious books of all religions, belief in all angles and Mohammed as the messenger and the Day of Judgment.
The five pillars, prayer five times a day (Salat), Charity (Zakat), a month of fasting (Ramadah), pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) and the belief in one God (Kalima) are the principles in which Muslims live their lives.
"We fast so that we may empathize and know what it means to be poor," Ahmad said.
Carla Johnson, professional writing specialist and English Department assistant of writing proficiency professor, spoke on Judaism. Judaism was the first monotheistic religion and the root of Christianity and Islam.
Jewish declaration of faith is through the Shema, the most basic and frequently used prayer. The Torah, which became the first five books of the Christian Bible, is used as the religious book of Judaism.
"[Historically] The Shema becomes the last rite of the Christian," Johnson said.
Additional dietary and kosher restrictions exist in Judaism as a sign of the respect of all life forms, including animals. After death they believe there is no hell, but estrangement from God from those who have sinned and not done penitence.
Within Judaism there are three branches of faith. Orthodox, the strictest sector, has dress regulations, preservation of life by refraining from birth control and abortion, and sex segregation. The Conservative sector allows for men and women to worship together but does not allow for the prevention of birth. Reformed Jews have a different interpretation of Judaism and have female rabbis.
"There are different views [between branches] of gender and how strictly laws should be enforced," Johnson said.
Tanushree Bera, first–year biology and physics major, spoke about Hinduism.
Known as the oldest religion, Hinduism has three Gods, Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the protector) and Shiva (the destroyer of evil).
Hinduism was the root of what is known as the caste system. Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kstriya (Rulers and Warriors), Vaiysa (Tradesman and craftsman) and Sudra (the menial workers) make up Hindu society.
Hinduism has many dietary restrictions, including cows, which are seen as the providers of milk and life.
Like Baha'i, Hinduism believes that God has come to earth several times to save the world in times of crisis.
Hinduism is based on the honesty, purity, self-control and non-violence. One who has not followed this way of life will not have a restful soul.
The session was wrapped up with several questions from the audience and panel members discussing the connections between the religions represented.
"The truth is one, but called by different names," Bera said
Additional displays have been set up in each residence hall by SDB. McCandless features Judaism, LeMans, Buddhism, Holy Cross, Hinduism and Islam in Regina.
All News Stories for Thursday, December 5, 2002
