Roundtable unites many faiths
By Chris Hargraves '05
or many students, the terrorist attacks of September 11 made them feel more connected to one another, while at the same time more aware of--and in some ways less comfortable with--cultural and religious differences. To help students cope with their fears and learn more about what they share in common, the Religious Roundtable was formed.
Started by Jody Asbury, dean of students in the College, the roundtable consists of at least 12 students, each from a different religious background from Catholicism and Judaism to Hindu and Baha'i, who meet once a week to discuss their faith and real-world applications for their beliefs.
In the weekly meetings, individuals share their experiences and perspectives about religious teachings. The group also holds events such as Tale-a-bration, an open-mic session in which students and other community members can come and listen or share their own religious beliefs.
Karen Taylor '04, a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints who directed the group last year, praises the way the Religious Roundtable not only promotes diversity to those within the group itself but to the larger University community as well.
"This experience has really broadened the way I view cultural and religious differences," she says. "Meeting people who are faithfully living their religion and learning about different cultures is always great. You quickly discover you have more in common with other people than you think."
In addition to meetings and special events, the group sponsors outreach projects as a way to join with their faiths in order to help others. This spring, the roundtable helped prepare 500 kits that were distributed through LDS Humanitarian Services to people in need around the world. Each package contained two combs, four toothbrushes, one tube of toothpaste, two bars of soap, and two hand towels--items desperately needed by people in areas devastated by war, poverty, and natural disasters.
Before preparing the kits, roundtable members made presentations explaining their religion and what it means to serve the community.
"I saw this as a great opportunity to celebrate unity," says Carl Adair '07. "It really opened my eyes to other people's backgrounds and cultures and showed me how we can overcome our differences and work together to help others."
To learn more about the Religious Roundtable, visit the Student Activities Web site at www.sa.rochester.edu or the Interfaith Chapel's site at www.rochester.edu/chapel.
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