Every day, whether we’re turning on the news or jumping on the bus, we are confronted by the same age-old debate: where is the place for religion in our society?
Some may feel our world is becoming increasingly secular, citing new legislation on gay marriage or women’s reproductive rights in the U.S. The next moment, however, one might turn on their television to find tens of thousands of rain-drenched pilgrims cheering for the announcement of the new Pope.
So, is our world becoming more secular? Or is this just a Western-centric view? And where, for that matter, is the place for religion in a secular institution such as SFU?
Not everyone knows this, but the ivory tower has been the haven of religion for centuries. The whole concept of a university grew out of the idea of educating doctors of divinity — those who would advise the monarchs. It is only in relatively modern history these institutions have become secular strongholds.
Despite this transformation, religion can still be a part of university life: perhaps not in the way it once was, but in a world where conflict is often ruled by religion, it’s impossible to dismiss it from higher education. Atheism may be part of the status quo for many, but that does not mean we can remain ill informed and ignorant. Instead, it’s imperative we explore each other’s faiths (or lack thereof).
At SFU, we have many faith-based clubs that reach out to atheists, agnostics, and believers alike. No matter your affiliation, you are sure to find a place where you can either enrich your faith and understanding or inspire dialogue among peers.
In fact, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association actually states in their mandate they hope to both “engage in religious activities and to create a dialogue with other religious groups within SFU.” Similarly, the Shia Muslim Society offers “open dialogue between all Muslim and non-Muslim SFU students.”
Whether or not this is a reaction to increasing tensions between the Muslim and Western world, the opening of doors and dialogue is precisely what should be promoted at SFU.
The Christian groups are taking a different approach which is more in keeping with their evangelical past. For example, the Chinese Christian Fellowship is hoping to “see our campuses transformed into a land of faith, hope and love.” On a similar vein, the Christian Fellowship (SCF) possesses “the desire to have everyone fall deeply in love with God.”
Of course, not everyone is interested in learning about different religions. Some are more keen to chuck a frisbee around, while others are interested in hunkering down and preparing for World War Z. The bad news for frisbee-ers but good news for the apocalypse-ers, is there might still be a religious club for you!
The Bible Believers Club’s vision is to “gather around the Word of God and be aware of modern events made clear by prophecy to prepare for the second coming of the Lord Jesus-Christ, (better known as the Rapture).” When asked for comment, the Bible Believers were unavailable, presumably busy preparing for the end of the world.
This is just a glimpse into the plethora of faith-based clubs at SFU, all of which provide unique experiences for believers and nonbelievers alike. However, the importance of these clubs transcends simply meeting new friends.
Opening up dialogue between world religions and beliefs is the key to moving forward, and the impact of doing so is well exemplified by the Bible Believers mission: unless we start looking at religion in a more open and scholarly way, preparing for the end of the world may not be such a bad idea after all.
