This week we explore the role of religion in America and there are many directions we can go. However, it seems only fair that as students at the largest Catholic University in America we spend our blog discussion on the role of religion on campus. We have already discussed the role of various socializing factors in our political values and ideology. Outside of our parents it is hard to argue that anything has much more of an impact on our political outlook that our education and our religion (including those of us who are nonreligious). And for much of us those two elements have been linked through parochial schooling at various levels. Obviously we all have various religious affiliations and range in our religious observance from extremely observant to completely nonreligious.
I would like you to address the role the religion plays in your views about society, and by extension about political issues. Have these beliefs been affected by your schooling, whether parochial or public? Please share any thoughts about the nature of religion and politics at DePaul. We are clearly a Catholic institution that leans fairly heavily toward more liberal social politics (generally speaking). What have you discovered about the religious life on campus that is is either surprising or particularly notable in terms of our school culture or politics? This should be a general discussion and you can feel free to expand or elaborate on any aspect of the prompts above or any comments of your classmates.
As someone that grew up without any strong religious connection outside of celebrating christmas, I was a little apprehensive about attending the largest catholic university in the country. I am surprised that I will graduate from DePaul with no formal education in Catholicism or Catholic history - my only required religion course was on Jamaican Rastafari and Haitian Vodou. It seems that while we have a vibrant array of extracurricular clubs and activities for Catholic students (and for students of other religions), many students are generally apathetic about religion, or at least about participating in it publicly. I have never once felt out of place as a generally agnostic person at DePaul, which is totally not what I expected before starting school here. I think my lack of exposure to any formal religion has made it challenging for me to understand the perspective of people who are very connected to theirs, which is frustrating! It’s a reality for many millions of people and I was not raised in such an environment, so I think there’s a lot of nuance in perspective and political culture I miss having not had such an experience.
ReplyDeleteEmma I really appreciate your perspective from having little religious affiliation at DePaul. I was raised in the Catholic church, although I’m apathetic to it now, and I think that we seem to have had a similar experience with religion at DePaul. I think a primary reason why DePaul has become the largest Catholic university in the country is because of the generality surrounding religion on campus. My dad and I discussed the presence of religion on campus when I first transferred from a large state school. I think he was relieved that the focus was more on the Vincentian tradition rather than standard Catholicism. The idea of service-based learning and prioritizing social justice causes might be one of few things I’ve internalized from years of Sunday school. Apathy toward religion, especially organized religion, seems to be a growing trend among us millennials. I’m not sure the extent to which my experience with the Catholic Church colors my interactions with those who are deeply connected to their own religion, as I struggle to grasp the reasoning of anti-choice advocates.
DeleteAmy, I was also relieved when through orientation and in touring the school, when I saw how DePaul was rooted in the Catholic Vincentian mission, service, and in using our education to help others and change the world. Last year, I became an active part participant in DePaul’s Community Service Association, an organization run by the Division of Mission and Ministry, that attempts to live DePaul’s Vincentian mission by weekly volunteering at various service sites throughout Chicago. Most recently I received the Vincentian Service Scholarship by the Division of Mission and Ministry that allows me to continue to live the Vincentian mission through service. Furthermore, through interacting with the Division of Mission and Ministry, I am in awe of how this department is able to advocate for social justice, marginalized communities and a more inclusive society without mentioning Catholicism, but rather staying true to St. Vincent DePaul’s vision of a more fair, just society. I was raised Catholic and am currently a practicing Catholic even though I do disagree with the Church on a variety of social issues. Through coming to DePaul and trying to figure out my worldview through a Vincentian lens, I have seen that having faith does not only mean going to Church and believing every single thing you were taught in Church school, but rather doing your part to make the world a place God would be proud of.
DeleteI grew up being catholic since both of my parents are catholic. Me being catholic has not shaped the way I view people nor political issues. The bible says that abortions should not be allowed and that same sex marriage isn’t “morally right” but I disagree with these statements and believe in abortions and same sex marriage. While in politics, there are controversial topics that people discuss due to their religion taking a toll on their perspectives. As for religion and politics at DePaul, I took a course called “Liberation Theology in Latin America” where religion is discussed as a way of liberation from the oppression caused by the government in Latin American countries. While some of my other classes talk about the conquest of Mexico and the forced religion on the indigenous population in Mexico. I find it interesting to see how there are many perspectives on religion but I find it even more surprising how Catholicism isn’t forced upon students since DePaul is the largest catholic university. In fact, I find it more surprising that the school doesn’t require a student to affiliate to a religion in that matter.
ReplyDeleteReligion plays a significant role in my view of society and political issues. My politics and views of society have been influenced by my religion and have shaped the way I perceive many issues. The influence mainly derives from my upbringing and family, which was surrounded by religion. Although my religion plays a significant role in my view of politics and society, I never allow my religious beliefs to affect or influence political decisions that affect society as a whole. My schooling also supported these beliefs; growing up, I went to public and private school, which frequently perpetuated Christian values that aligned with those I grew up with. At DePaul, being a Catholic institution, I do not feel that religion is centered at the core of the university. Given the more liberal leanings of school, it has allowed this Catholic institution to be more expansive in incorporating other religions. I found the diversification of religion and inclusivity surprising because of the institution’s religion. I appreciate that DePaul does not impose its religion on its students and allows it to be present for those who wish to engage with it.
ReplyDeleteReligion has never played a big role in my political views although I was raised Catholic by my parents. My views about society have been framed by my upbringing but I don’t believe that they are defined by the influence of Catholicism because I never really connected with it. For this reason, I don't find any link with my religious upbringing and politics yet I realize some people's political views are often determined by religion. Religion was never pushed on me by my parents or my schooling so I was able to think for myself and explore different religions to identify what I resonate with. Today, I don’t identify with any religious group but I would say that I am spiritual. When I decided to choose DePaul as my school, my parents were very happy as it is a Catholic University but the first day of my freshman orientation I was introduced to the interfaith dialogue at DePaul making it clear they value religious diversity. DePaul is notable because even though they are a Catholic University they don’t require their students to be Catholic nor do they push a Catholic curriculum/agenda. The one thing DePaul does require is a religious studies course but the classes offer a wide selection of faith and religious groups, reinforcing the fact that DePaul values religious diversity.
ReplyDeleteAs a child of one Jewish parent and one Lutheran, religion has never played a consistent or an active role in my life or on my views of society. As a student of Liberal Arts, at one of the most prominent Catholic Institutions in the country, I have learned a lot about the role religion has played in shaping the world we live in today. I think that having religion courses are part of the Liberal core is incredibly insightful. Though religion has played quite a different role at Depaul for me, than I thought it would. In all of the religion courses I have taken here, we have analyzed through an academic lens, how religion has shaped the world in which we live. And often I have seen students, who once viewed their religion through one particular lens, widen their perspective, rather than sway it one way or another. Depaul has given me insight into how religion often plays a critical role in the way in which the political sphere operates. And I recognize that although it may not play an active role in my life, it does in the lives of many others.
ReplyDeleteI was raised pretty secular apart from a couple extended family trips to a church here or there for Christmas, but religion has always been fascinating to me. I think it is so interesting how one specific thing can impact so many people's lives in so many different ways. I wouldn't say that I was "against" going to a religious school per say, but it wasn't something that I was actively seeking out when I was applying to various colleges. After spending almost 4 full years at DePaul though, I can honestly say I forget that we are the largest Catholic Institution in the country because Catholicism specifically is not something I see actively being practiced or talked about on campus. I see more about taking care of other students, volunteering, helping your community, etc. which is one of the reasons I ended up choosing DePaul in the first place. As some other people have mentioned, DePaul is also a place where you can take religious courses and learn about lots of different faiths, which I really value and think is important especially in the context of political discourse. I have taken a couple religious courses and most of them have focused on religions other than Catholicism or Christianity. I think since different religions play such a large part in so many people's lives, it is important to seek to learn about as many different faiths as possible in order to start to have a baseline understanding about where someone else is coming from. I think that being required to take religious courses at DePaul really benefited me in this sense and I am happy that I was "forced" to take classes that I may have otherwise not been interested in.
ReplyDeleteI’ve attended Catholic school from kindergarten to 8th grade, so for me religion has played a large role in my view on society and political issues. Though I disagree with the mainstream Church on a variety of social issues (abortion, same-sex marriage, etc.), I think that my Catholic upbringing has helped me frame my current political views in alignment with how Christ would treat others. I wouldn’t call myself religious today (more so in a cultural sense), but part of why I chose to go to DePaul was because it uses its Catholic heritage in such a way that religion—in my view—should be used: as a framework for its students to understand those who think or practice faith differently from us.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I have found notable in my experience at DePaul is that the department of Mission and Ministry itself makes an effort to veer away from typical connotations of organized religion and especially the stereotypes of the Catholic Church. I am an RA on campus and Residential Education works heavily with Mission and Ministry. The first time the RA staff was introduced to them, their representative was adamant on reassuring us that they were not trying to indoctrinate or alienate anyone but rather provide a place for faith as well as the questioning of faith. In a lot of ways, their work was presented with no explicitly religious pressure. I find this particularly interesting because it at least seemed to me that they were not only aware that the college-aged generation is becoming more wary of organized religion, but they were making a conscious effort to break those predispositions. I have not been incredibly active in religion on campus as I would identify as more of agnostic, but I actually ended up joining the campus ministry’s community service division because of this recruitment style. I myself am sceptical toward the Catholic nature of this institution, but I found myself feeling surprisingly welcomed. I would like to add, however, that I was raised in a Catholic home so my experiences may not attest to the actual divisiveness of religion on this campus- a lot of Catholic practices that seem normal/standard to me may not be to others.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with essentially no religion present in my personal life, so it has not shaped my views on society or politics whatsoever. I’ve never had any sort of connection with religion, and I’m sure it’ll stay that way in the future. I can understand that religion does something for other people, and it can shape their views towards politics and society. It’s just not my thing. I would have never seen myself going to a private catholic school, but here I am now. There is very little religious presence on campus, and that definitely factored into my choice in coming here. I think it’s funny how little Catholicism there is to the largest Catholic university in the United States. Among me and my friends, not a single person is religious. I do think this can be contributed to the more liberal culture at this school, but I also think it says something about the role of religion in modern society. Over time, religion has become less and less important. It’ll be interesting to see how this trend continues in the future, and how religion manifests itself in the future.
ReplyDeleteIn my life, I was born and raised as a muslim and both of my parents as well. My religion, Islam plays a significant role in my view of society and political issues. Islam has shaped my personality on how I view and response to people and politic issues. My religion has never been changed in the entire history it has changed many and many people around us. This change influences on how people view Islam and other religions and how each of these religions have shaped someone during their lifetime. Taking course at Depaul on Islam or other religion can also play a role because it involves society and politics. This could even go further by explaining the process of the role and why people need to take it seriously. Depaul offers many different types of religion (islam) course but it require anyone to take any. If a student wants to learn more about their or some other religion, he/she is allowed anytime. My religion Islam doesn’t force anyone to learn or practice the religion but whoever wants to is more than welcome. Islam is about peace and welcoming people.
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ReplyDeleteGrowing up, religion was a rather influential presence in my life and I would say that I am still fairly religious. I don’t, however, allow religion to dictate my political beliefs, especially on social issues.. Solely because I believe that religious practice can sometimes be diluted by cultural beliefs.
Coming to a school that was known for being the largest Catholic University was somewhat exciting to me. I’m not Catholic, yet I still liked the idea of going to a school that was religious, even if it wasn’t the religion that I necessarily practice. So far I have been fairly surprised by the lack of catholic influence in my daily life on campus and as a DePaul student. I feel that the University has handled it well in terms of how they decide to implement it. There’s a larger focus on being a good person and having good Vincentian values, than making us go to mass and follow the practices of catholicism. Along with that, I’ve come to view DePaul as a fairly inclusive school. So I imagine that pushing us to adopt catholic practices, would really go against what the school itself stands for. Something else I noticed recently was although we have a requirement to take a religious course, we are allowed to choose which one we take. There are classes on multiple religions and classes on atheism, in case the subject of religion makes people uncomfortable. I thought this to be rather notable.
My parents raised me as a Seventh Day Adventist Christian and growing up I was really active in church. I was in multiple youth groups, I went to church every week, participated in all the events my church hosted, and worshipped at home every day. I used to let my religion guide my social and political mindset; I took in what I heard (that being gay, having an abortion, and indulging in “worldly” things that did not align with the Bible was wrong) and accepted it as true without question. However, going to high school and seeing different perspectives from people who did not attend my church made me realize how detrimental this was to my thinking. Though I still believe in my religion, I do not automatically agree with whatever is said in church, and instead critically think about it and make my own opinion based on outside sources that are not just what is said in sermons. I think DePaul is great when it comes to being accepting about religion (or the absence of it). Though I cannot speak for every single person at DePaul, I have not come across any staff or student that has discriminated against someone else based on their religion. Universities should strive to create open, yet safe atmospheres. If they can achieve this, which I think DePaul does, they show the principle of freedom, which is a value that is commonly thought of in American political culture.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Alyssa! I think that DePaul does a good job of accepting people from different faiths or lack of being religious. I think that the fact that DePaul values service makes it easy for people of many faiths to fit in. Furthermore, I really enjoyed your story about your socialization and you grew into your individuality. I have heard a lot of stories at DePaul about how people were raised in one religion and then their faith changed as they grew up because they were exposed to different perspectives. This open minded attitude allows many people to feel accepted and it such an asset in students of a service based university, particularly in a city with such vast diversity.
DeleteI agree with you. I praise DePaul for not pressing their Catholic values down people's throats but rather they embrace and respect other people's cultures and religion which is something politicians lack.
DeleteI had a Catholic upbringing and to a certain extent this has guided me in understanding various political issues. I think that DePaul is built upon a similar Catholic identity that upholds catholic values but doesn’t interpret them in a way that would alienate some or limits someone's ability to practice a different religion freely. I don’t really partake in campus life very much because of my commute however I think that DePaul is really as catholic as someone seeks it out to be. As Kate also mentioned, I often forget DePaul is a Catholic institution. I myself conceptualize Catholicism in a way that isn’t traditional, much like how DePaul highlights vincentian values rather than certain principles that to me, aren’t truly Catholic. I think I am more spiritual rather than connected to any organized religion or religious practices. I think I grew up in quite a liberal Catholic family and went to mass with the knowledge that interpretation should not be forced upon my own faith and beliefs, meaning, I believed in the values of Catholicism but disagreed with many of the implications it has on social and political issues. I find that DePaul’s Vincentian mission makes the university more dedicated in using one’s own education for the betterment of society; whether that can be seen in efforts in social justice, uplifting those who have historically been marginalized, or advocating for human rights.
ReplyDeleteI was raised fairly secular and was not aware that my family identified as Irish Catholic until I was old enough to drive. Despite this lack of personal association with religion, all of my closest friends were deeply rooted in their various faiths. Thus, my exposure to faith has always been through how it affected my closest friends through their individual journeys. When I came to DePaul I was intrigued that religion was depicted as a group identity and that it was mostly expressed through service towards others. I think that DePaul can be identified to an outsider as a value driven institution, but not necessarily a Catholic one because the aspect of DePaul group identity shows itself in the form of service not prayer. This as very surprising to me as a student, but nonetheless welcoming, comforting and refreshing. I think the identity of DePaul being rallied around a specific saint, who valued service, allows space for people of many faiths to go to school here.
ReplyDeleteI was raised by parents who were devout Catholics, but critical of the church. They did not push their religious views on me or my siblings for which I am grateful. I am a Catholic though secular, it's not a really big thing in my life but I won't cast it aside if that makes sense? I firmly believe that religion and politics must remain separate. I am pro the separation of church and state because I find it extremely ridiculous for, example, a religious president or governor to enforce laws based on "religious values" such as in regards about abortion. Look, I am a Catholic, but that doesn't mean I have to enforce laws that center around my religion while disregarding my constituents or citizens. Religion in public school here in Chicago is not that big, well to me that is so I was not even affected in that sense. What I feel that states with Christian conservative politician should follow DePaul's model. Look, this institution is a Catholic college but that doesn't mean we're all crazy conservatives shoving jesus down our throats. We respect people of different cultures and we do not push our religious values towards anyone else. That is what politics should be. They must be aware about other's views, culture and religion and not thinking that one religion is superior or for that matter, the sole purpose for a law to be passed.
ReplyDeleteI have always been resistant to religion from an early age because although I was raised in the Episcopal Church (which recognized gay marriage/unions earlier than any other denomination as well as being the generally more liberal alternative to Catholicism) I still felt that organized religions in general were anti-gay, which I knew I was from a pretty young age. Public school introduced me to a diverse group of people, which is where I learned that there were a lot of stupid people who used religion or the idea of “God’s plan” as an excuse to have the dumbest takes on every issue. I definitely resented organized religion because I saw it as the main reason that LGBTQ people faced discrimination in the US. Things like that really made me hate christianity because I saw it doing more harm than good. It drove me to be an edgy atheist in middle school and then an apathetic agnostic in highschool to where I am today, which is so far removed from religion that it literally never crosses my mind unless I am thinking of the aesthetics of organized religion which tend to be fabulous. I remember freshman year of highschool (when gay marriage was still illegal in many states) my history teacher told me that she thought gay marriage should be up to the states to decide (she was a devout christian). I think the Catholic Church (aside from the amazing aesthetic value of its churches, institutions, traditions, and ceremonies) is an evil organization that is struggling to make sense in the modern era. The coverup of countless rape and sexual abuse scandals are disgusting. Even Pope Francis, who is often touted by liberals as being a “modern” Pope holds archaic and problematic views on members of the LGBTQ community.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the misconceptions about the relationship between religion and politics is that the people that are the most religious (specifically Christian) are also the most conservative. This is something that I've been led to believe, too, but when I came to DePaul I found that many people can hold firm religious beleifs while still being quite liberal politically. For example, one of my roommates is Baptist and her dad is a pastor. Religion obviously plays a huge role in her life, but she's also very socially liberal. This girl can recite the entire Bible on command, but she still believes that she can hold liberal social views. As a practicing Catholic, I've also met many other Catholic students that are in the same situation as my roommate and I. I think that DePaul does a nice job at fostering an environment where religion only plays as big of a role in students' lives as they want it to be. I think this is one of the things that allows some students to be both liberal and religious, if that's what they want. No one has to chose one or the other: both religion and politics can coexist together.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! For me, I am very progressive in the realm of social politics (such as immigration reform, rights for LGBTQ+ communities and women, etc.) However, considering my strong Christian background, I only abide by some views given to me as a child (such as with drugs, I am very upset about the current situation centered around the opioid crisis and do not think the government is doing enough to decrease the death toll and its impact on people's lives) It seems healthy to have an intrinsic philosophical middle ground when it comes to issues that are highly polarized today! -Olivia Piotrowski
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ReplyDeleteMy family comes from a firm Christian background. When my mother remarried, she converted to Greek Orthodox from Catholicism while I still remained a Catholic. Nonetheless, I went to church with my new family and took part in many Orthodox traditions. In effect, my views on society and politics stemmed predominantly from my family structure. Surprisingly, once I began high school (at a public institution) I surrounded myself with culturally diverse students with various religious backgrounds. This caused me to question my own religious virtues to the point where I became partially agnostic at the end of my senior year. As much as I wanted to completely change my outlook and values, I could not drop all my beliefs because they make me who I am today. When starting DePaul, I noticed the overwhelming liberal atmosphere (specifically regarding politics) of scholars and professors alike. Albeit, I felt a bit pressured to abide by that particular ideology but I assured myself that my views do not need to align with the majority of the schools. In fact, DePaul does indeed have a steady Catholic reach. One aspect of Catholic influence does not permit handing out condoms on campus. Also, there are several organizations and retreats (such as Kairos) which highlight Catholic values and spread the message about religion. There is even church service on Sundays at the St. Vincent DePaul church! On the whole, if someone wishes to get involved but feels dissuaded because of the large liberal overtones of the school, there are places but one must be adamant on looking!
-Olivia Piotrowski
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ReplyDeleteI have attended Catholic schools throughout my life, which has influenced my political views. The teachings of the Catholic Church has taught me to respect individuals. The policies that I support are focused and support that notion. The Catholic saint that has influenced my political has been Oscar Romero since he spoke out against poverty and social injustice that was occurring in El Salvador. I advocate for policies that empower minorities in the U.S. and gives them an equal opportunity to succeed in this unjust society. Personally, religion has shaped how I view society and my political views. DePaul that promotes the Vincentian tradition reinforces that perception. The religious classes I have taken were focused on the social injustices that exist in society. In my introduction to Islam, I learned the racial discrimination Muslims face in this country and the misinterpretation Westerners have on the teachings of Islam. Religion can help people realize the injustices that exist in society as it did for me.
DeleteIn terms of my own views about society, religion has played very little role for me. Generally it’s not something I think on much at all and how it affects me personally. In politics as a whole however, religion plays a larger role with some policy choices morally justified through the use of religion. I think that there is this general conception in American politics that religion is often only associated with the right. I think that through DePaul, and some of the democratic candidates that this isn’t true. Especially at DePaul, I think the role of religion is something that is up to the individual, which is something I greatly appreciate.
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Growing up Muslim I have always been taught to worry about myself and nobody else;to not judge others, wether it was related to life or religion. This is something that is preached in Islam, your job is not judge others “it is between them and god” is words my parents have always preached to me. I think that my religion has shaped my views on society in a positive way. Although the religion is commonly looked at as “strict” or “nonwestern friendly” I think it is the opposite of this my religion as helped contribute the liberal ideas I hold, which is what america values. This is my first year at Depaul and it being the largest catholic university amazes me. The school follows very liberal values, although they do still maintain their cathiolic values. Depaul allows their students to express themselves in any way they would like. I believe this is how politics should be these conservative men and women who preach religion and “gods plan” and use religion as their propaganda for bills and laws.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has grown up in a Christian home, I am a very religious woman in and outside of my political beliefs. Regardless of my religious beliefs, I absolutely love DePaul’s values and mission. (I was an Orientation Leader over the Summer so I am extra informed and nerdy about it lol). I love that St. Vincent opened a learning space to everyone in a time when only rich, white, protestant men had the opportunity to be educated in a higher institution. On top of this, it was not necessary for anyone admitted to identify as Catholic. I believe that some of these liberal and flexible foundings have had an impact on the overall liberal social environment at DePaul. Religion was never something I grew up with outside of my home, and especially not school — thankfully. I try as best I can to separate my religious beliefs from that of political, however, there are some issues where the two collide. For example, on the topic of abortion, I am absolutely 100% pro-choice for all women. However, due to religious beliefs, I, personally, would never have an abortion — which is totally fine. I believe that I can keep my religious beliefs to myself and keep them separate from politics, but in some cases, I overstep that boundary. Going back to DePaul’s religious life, I particularly love the Interfaith Space in the Student Center because it is a space that can be used for absolutely anything: meditation, prayer, a quiet space, etc. This university gives students endless opportunities to discover their faith, belonging, etc. There are resources for students of varying religions and even those who do not identify with a religion. I think that this diversity is very important for a university and higher education institution, which in turn benefits us as students and exposes us to a more diverse and overall more informed school culture.
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DeleteFrom very early on I received some confusing messages about religion. My parents were non-practicing Christians I guess, but they allowed my maternal grandparents to take me to a very hellfire and brimstone based Baptist church in rural Texas. This was a confusing dynamic to grow up with but once we moved out of Texas my church going ceased immediately. I do think there are some amazing lessons you can extract from any religion, but I become a little uneasy when people try to push their religious beliefs on others or even judge others based on their religious lens. I attended public school for all my education up until attending DePaul so religion played a very small role, except on sports teams where coaches would often make us pray as team which I was always a little uncomfortable with. I have found DePaul to almost only be Catholic in name. Outside of the big church on campus and the name, I don’t really notice anything about DePaul that reminds me it’s a Catholic institution. I don’t live on campus though so maybe I’m missing certain dynamics. I do notice that Chicago as a city especially my neighborhood had tons of churches of many different denominations, and I find a lot of them really interesting. It seems like every wave of immigration to Chicago has built their own churches and neighborhoods based around them and that is pretty neat.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I grew up in a very religious, catholic home; today I would not consider myself very religious. If I am being very honest, I think religion plays very little role in my personal life, in school and politics. It is my first year here in Depaul, as a transfer student and I do however, notice more of a liberal and Jesuit nature in some aspects of the school. In my personal life, I would consider myself Christian and was always taught by my parents to be kind and non judgmental, but to also focus on myself and not worry too much about others, and I think those ideals have helped me be as open minded as I am. I think these are the same ideals that should be implemented more in politics. I consider myself fairly liberal and progressive and for the most part, I think those ideals would make a more welcoming and fair America for everyone. Be open minded, mind your business, be kind, be fair, and be understanding.
ReplyDeleteMy upbringing has greatly been effect by my Christian values. I come from a conservative Christian household were we weekly attend church and serve in the ministry. Being a Christian has impacted my perspective in serving others. From an early age, I have learned that my mission is to help others and show the love of Christ. For those that are now aware, Christianity is a religion based upon the teachings and miracles of Jesus. Jesus is the Christ. The word "Christ" means anointed one. Christ is not Jesus' last name. Jesus is the anointed one from God the Father who came to this world, fulfilled the Old Testament laws and prophecies, died on the cross, and rose from the dead physically. He performed many miracles that were recorded in the Gospels by the eyewitnesses. He is divine in nature as well as human. Thus, He has two natures and is worthy of worship and prayer. These are my beliefs that many shared. Although, DePaul is the largest Catholic university there has been a great amount of room to have a space to talk about other religions in a respectful way. The 2 religious classes that I have taken has reaffirm my believes and given me an opportunity to met other students. DePaul does not enforce any particular religion, rather gives the students the opportunity become affiliate as much as they wish.
ReplyDeleteI am Catholic and religion plays a huge role in my views about society but not so much on political issues. Being Catholic, my family and I frequently attend church, celebrate Catholic holidays, and fast on specific days for different saints and Catholic figures. On society, certain topics I view base off of my Catholic values and cultural beliefs. However, although I am Catholic, I disagree with some political norms that a Catholic would usually support. For example, I support abortion and for the woman to have the right to make her own decision on such a situation. Most Catholics would side against me, as abortion is seen as going against our religion. My Catholic beliefs have honestly not been affected by my schooling or when I'm in public. I hardly discuss religion because to me, as long as I know what I believe in and I can practice my faith in peace then I am not bothered by anything else. I think although DePaul is a Catholic University, it is not pressed or forced in student's faces that they must be Catholic or have anything to even do with the religion. DePaul lets students do them and if they'd like to get involved, then there are many great clubs and activities to do so for all types of religions. I think this is a nice thing about DePaul and some of its Liberal leanings because we are very open and accepting. This allows students to be comfortable with who they are and their religious values-if they have any.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the church, a Disciples of Christ one that my family has attended for 70 years. I love my church because the idea of being Christian in action and having a personal relationship with your higher power, were the most important aspects. We have organizations that serve refugees and the homeless, that travel domestically and overseas to build houses and water-purifiers, all without being missionaries. You do good because it's the right thing to do, and let the universe handle the rest. I don't go to church that much here in Chicago, but I go often when I'm home just to catch up with people I've known my whole life. My politics is absolutely an extension of the beliefs I learned in my church, prioritizing the making a just and civil society. As far as organized religion goes, I believe in the separation between church and state and I the think the Bible is propaganda.
ReplyDeleteBeing raised by agnostic parents and attending public schools up until DePaul, religion has never played a huge role in my life. My relationship with religion has shaped my view of certain political issues. My lack of religious belief has resulted in me opposing any political action motivated by religion. I agree with Lenin’s point that a separation of church and state is necessary. I do not believe legislators should be able to use religious values and belief as a motivation for legislation, because their specific religious beliefs do not represent all their constituent’s beliefs. I was very surprised when first meeting other DePaul students because I really just expected a lot more devout Catholics. Since arriving at DePaul, I have learned almost nothing about the religious life on campus because I made no effort to search and nothing was pushed on me. I really appreciate how little the largest Catholic university pushes Catholicism on its students, and it provides resources for students to explore and learn about all other cultures and religions.
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