Out of the closet & into the classroom, the Yard, & the dining halls: notes on religion at Harvard

Liberal Education, Fall, 2001 by Robert Kiely

Search for tradition

I wish that there had been more non-Christians in my course. I have heard that it is the impression (and I stress "impression" since no accurate counts are taken) of my colleagues who teach classes in Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism that the preponderance of students in their classes come from the tradition being studied. In many ways, this is to be expected. Many of these students know their own traditions very slightly or not at all. They themselves joke about the fact that they have to come to Harvard to learn what it means to be a Hindu or a Jew or a Catholic. My active Protestant students usually know scripture well, but virtually nothing about the great treasure of Christian thought and practice over the centuries. My Catholic students know the sacraments and what the Pope thinks about divorce, abortion, women, and homosexuality (without necessarily agreeing with him), but though they have heard of Benedict and Francis, they typically don't know any more about them than their Protestant friends.

As churches and families are less and less likely to provide young people with an experience and knowledge of religion, it is a good thing for colleges and universities to fill the gap. Even secular institutions like Harvard now are filling that gap with a greater and greater variety of classes and activities. As many religious institutions weaken or occupy themselves with internal politics, students turn away from them but not necessarily from faith or from intellectual curiosity about their origin and destiny. They therefore do what comes naturally to bright people: They organize their own prayer groups and Bible studies and interfaith gatherings. And in larger and larger numbers they take classes in religious subjects.

For now, it may be necessary for students to gravitate to their own traditions out of sheer curiosity about their roots. But crossover is happening little by little. I never refuse an invitation to pray at Hillel or with Christian Impact, and I am always aware of a certain amount of mixing around the edges.

But perhaps most important of all in a truly free society is that students take it for granted that they can keep kosher or fast during Ramadan or Lent, wear a yarmulke or bless themselves in public, without flaunting their piety or apologizing for their faith in a place of "higher learning."

RELATED ARTICLE: Hindu Students Council at Texas A&M University

From Constitutions

PURPOSE AND GOALS

The purpose of Hindu Students Council shall be to spread awareness of the Hindu religion and culture while promoting individual, spiritual growth.

The major goals shall be

1. Promotion of Hindu culture and values.

2. Live a better life according to Hindu Dharma [religion].

3. Education of the history of Hinduism. Membership shall be open to all individuals interested in the goals of the organization.

History

Hindu Students Council at Texas A&M University is a chapter of an international forum promoting the understanding of Hindu culture and heritage. Through many different activities and projects, HSC provides opportunities for the growth of individual and betterment of society. The chapter organizes lectures, debates, and presentations on Hindu religion and philosophy and celebrates major festivals. Hindu Students Council at Texas A&M University was founded on Dasherra of October 1994. See http://stuact.tamu.edu/stuorgs/hindu/constitution.html