Why is an understanding of world religions an important aspect of Jesuit education?
Monday, May 5, 2008
Read comments from faculty and staff of Xavier's Understanding World Religions Seminar, including statements from Audrey Calloway (Office of Marketing and Printing Services) and Kim Powers-Hoydt (Department of Athletics) and Terri Korbee (Division of University Relations).
10 Comments:
By
Max Spread
Jesuit Education was founded on an attempt to better understand the world, bringing together people of many different traditions in order to gain insight into cultural, religious and linguistic differences as well as similarities. A tremendous value is placed upon the understanding of world religions in Jesuit Education because it seeks to serve the whole individual and through that process the relationships we form with those who we interact with on a daily basis form who we are. Jesuit Education and Pedagogy enable individuals a unique opportunity to reflect upon experiences in such a way as to learn more from others and ourselves in order to better know God. Creating a better understanding of world religions is essential to Jesuit Education especially in a world of communication. Understanding and becoming educated in the different cultural traditions, religions and languages of the world is a way in which we can better understand what it means to be human rather than limit ourselves to a national identity. We strive to understand the faith traditions of others because it is one way people can communicate. Through understanding religion and doing so in an Ignatian Pedagogical manner, we attempt to understand many different aspects instead of one dimension, we examine multiple avenues and how each interacts and intersects. To better understand world religions is a further step in understanding the role God plays in each of our lives, in an attempt to understand world religions we begin to appreciate diversity and in doing so we work towards God’s love.
By
Teri Korbee
Jesuit education embraces open dialogue and encourages the appreciation of diversity. There is no better topic than religion to explore the cultural influences and foundational philosophy behind it. Because of this, we learn our commonalities, and although we are many, we are finding we are one. That is Jesuit education to me.
-Teri Korbee, Development
By
Audrey Calloway
It’s an important factor in acknowledging global perspectives. It helps to create a space to have open dialogue to facilitate a better understanding of our differences and our similarities.
A. Calloway, Marketing & Printing Services
By
Kim Powers Hoyt
Education leads to understanding; understanding leads to respect. And respect is essential to upholding the values of this university. For this reason it is essential that we take the time to learn about all the world’s religions.
Kim Powers Hoyt, Athletics
By
Anonymous
We live in a global world, we live in diverse community.
-Anonymous
By
Anonymous
It is a global issue—we need to know and understand each other.
-Anonymous
By
Anonymous
Exploration of other religions is a must, especially as we expand globally.
-Anonymous
By
Anonymous
Part of Jesuit education is forming persons for others. It seems to me that an understanding of other’s faiths could help in our response/relationship with those we interact with and serve.
-Anonymous
By
Anonymous
Our universities are not about the business of preparing students for a homogeneous world. Rather, their world is diverse and global. Looking back, from early in their history, Jesuits have traditionally gone out and met individuals "where they were." An appreciation of an individual includes the acceptance of his or her identity, and religion (or absence of one) is an integral component of that identity. Therefore, a knowledge and appreciation of world religions, with their affect on individuals as well as their interplay in our world, should be included in the rigor of a Jesuit education.
By
Anonymous
Understanding world religions is important because we all came from one the same parents, Adam and Eve. We are their children. It is important to know your brother and sister and when they hurt, you feel for them, when they are happy, you rejoice. The world we live in would do well to understand each other better and by so doing would increase the abundance of our Savior's love. He is in every society, we just need to know where to look. The two great commandments are Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself. If we learn to understand each other and the religions of each other, we will make larger strides in loving our neighbor as ourself and thus love our God. Understanding is important, because we take what is good in all things and and in all places and in all religions and they become what we wish we were, what we are and what we will be. How can we truly be followers of Christ without an understanding of what we are capable of understanding. How can we lead others to do good if we do not set an example ourselves? If we want change in the world, we must accomplish it through Christ. That means that we will be understanding and thus merciful to all people. Our education at this University is leading us to seek change, but we must do so with our hearts full of charity for our fellow men.
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