The University of Wisconsin campus is frequently host to controversial lectures, some filling lecture halls and others gathering a crowd on the street. Themes often focus on religion and claim one's superiority over another or the evil inherent in the followers of this or that prophet. This is, obviously, nothing new.
The crucifixion of Christ was cited for centuries as an event representing the incompatibility of Christianity and the Judaism from which it was born. The Crusades and Sept. 11 are often mentioned as exemplifying the inherent conflict of Islam and Christianity. The Israel-Palestine conflict is regularly held up as a clash of religions.
Yet each of these confrontations is just as easily traced to a political source as a theological one. Why is it that we so often focus on the wars and quarrels of states and institutions and not the basic fellowship that most of us experience throughout our daily lives? The former appeals to the worst aspects of our nature like revenge, self-interest and arrogance while the latter represents the best in us — forgiveness, unity, cooperation.
These are not simply pleasant ideals, but practical and visible activities. We need look no further than this university to find them enacted.
During the month of Ramadan, the Muslim Student Association hosted biweekly, public iftar dinners and a fast-a-thon. Christians, Jews, Sikhs, atheists and all people regardless of belief system could celebrate faith in a common God or in their shared humanity. The Atheists, Humanists and Agnostics group is inviting adherents of lesser-known religions to give presentations on their beliefs and practices. The Bahá'í Campus Association hosts interfaith devotions twice a month, where themed excerpts from various scriptures are discussed over dinner. The Lutheran Campus Center hosted a symposium on the sacred scriptures of the Abrahamic religions. The Spiritual Student Organization Fair each fall and spring sees the gathering of several groups with a sole purpose: to encourage students to come together and investigate their spirituality and ethics by joining one of nearly 40 such organizations. For every run-in the news presents as a clash of religions, the University of Wisconsin offers 100 examples of interfaith unity.
As partisan groups employ religious language to achieve divisive political objectives, faith groups have the responsibility to use religious discourse to accomplish unifying spiritual goals. As this campus demonstrates, ethical people, be they theists or atheists or something else, can unite under a common banner of progress by advancing principles, however derived, like gender equality, the harmony of science and religion, the elimination of prejudices and peace.
Todd Brogan
UW Junior, Economics
