Lots of Talking

Interfaith dialogue. Intercultural living. Interreligious understanding. Harmonious coexistence. What do these words even mean? As a student attempting to get a well rounded liberal arts education, you take a lot of classes about broad ideas and principles which are put up on a pedestal as ideals for societies to aspire towards. You do a lot of talking and theorizing and postulating and as some would say, bullshitting, but it can be hard to find a forum to actually put all these ideas into practice. I think our house has been making strides toward that goal this year.

Our first round of programming has consisted of dialogue sessions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Every week, a small group of people get together to do some more talking. But instead of the academic setting of a classroom, the backdrop is our living room. In lieu of a lecture and debate, we have informal conversation about our opinions. In the past, in classes I have taken on this subject, it was easy to find moderate viewpoints. People were interested in learning about both the narratives and engaging in informed academic discussion. When I went to the Middle East for a semester, it was the opposite. Everybody was on a side and there was little room for a middle ground. I guess it makes a huge difference when you're actually living through a conflict versus observing it from afar. Now that I'm back at Georgetown, I'm trying to reconcile both ways of looking at things.

That is what I think our dialogue sessions are attempting to achieve: the expression of opinions in a safe space without watering them down but with the goal of learning from each other.

Berkley Round Table Discussion

I got an email from Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs; they have been interviewing randomly-selected members of the class of 2011 since we were freshman. Plied with the promise of a $30 gift card to Amazon (in addition to genuine curiosity!), I agreed to sit down with six or so of my peers last Thursday to discuss religion in the Georgetown community.

The five girls and one guy at the table all started off by introducing themselves, and we all identified ourselves religiously. This group, for the most part, was Christian-affiliated or not religiously inclined at all. The first few questions the moderator asked were more personal: how have your religious views shifted since freshman year, if at all? How many friends do you have who ascribe to different religions from your own? I was curious to hear everyone's response to the second question, given that I'm living in the Melting Pot. I was shocked to hear, though, that everyone else at the table said that all their friends were almost uniformly the same religion as their own: "It's sort of just easier, or something."

Then the conversation turned to wider subjects about our school: How open religiously is Georgetown? How comfortable do you feel on campus given your religion? What do you think should change? I appreciated that everyone was very sensitive and respectful in answering these questions, and that there was a general attitude of maturity. Nevertheless, I was in no way surprised to hear everyone gang up, however respectfully, on the Catholic and Jesuit identity of Georgetown. They sometimes did so with little understanding for the other side. For example, critique was offered of Georgetown for not "supporting the partners of gay professors invited to teach at Georgetown." What this means is that Georgetown, like all Catholic-affiliated private organizations, such as Catholic hospitals, will not cover the health benefits of a gay partner to a professor as they would cover health benefits for a marital spouse (not that it won't "support," whatever that means, a gay partner). Were it to, it would lose whatever benefits it receives from the Catholic Church and potential tax status under the IRS code as a Catholic-affiliated organization; it would have to essentially revoke its status as "Catholic."

I explained this in the discussion, and I was heard out politely. But one person did make the comment, "Well, is it really all that important for it to be that 'Catholic'? There must be some compromise." I pointed out that compromise is offered at the point that the student gains entry to the school: come and attend a Catholic school, and get a fine education at a well-respected school but not demand that the school simply stop being Catholic for your sake, or don't come here. It's not meant to be harsh, and if anything, Georgetown has welcomed more and more diversity on its campus. But the same way students are asked to be tolerant and respectful of one another's religions, can we not also show some respect for the religion of the school also? Maybe there are only a handful of us, but some of us came to Georgetown at least in part because it is Catholic. And frankly, it frustrates me that my peers are ever-willing to be respectful of my right to be Catholic, but not of my school's right to be Catholic.

Fall Fest 2010 - Working with DC Schools and DC Reads

Lizzie graciously volunteered her time today for Georgetown Outreach in Learning and Education's Fall Fest 2010, where she painted faces with ghoulish delight and talent. Enjoy!

Being Jewish away from home

About a month ago Jews around the world gathered to celebrate the new Jewish year, 5771. The new year, and the month or so of Jewish holidays that follow, always make for a very reflective time for me. The beginning of the Jewish year generally coincides with the new academic year, a fact that I never thought too much about until I came to college. Interestingly, in the years since I began college I’ve become much more attuned to and aware of Jewish holidays and rituals and of Judaism itself. Certainly, Georgetown, with its focus on religion and interfaith initiatives has played a part in my increased sense of awareness, but more influential is the pure reality of being away from home.
While I was in middle school and high school, no matter who my friends were or what my extracurricular activities were, I got my automatic dose of Judaism from Hebrew school and from home and my family. My family has never been particularly observant, but we are traditional, and we have always made a point of spending Friday nights at home, enjoying a quiet Shabbat dinner amongst ourselves or with close friends. It is our time of rest, reflection, and family togetherness. As for Jewish holidays, whether we celebrate them at home or at friends’ or relatives’ houses, we always observe them, using them as “together time.”

It’s no surprise, then, that coming to college was a bit of a shock for me. College kids don’t spend Friday evenings inside quietly. Instead, they go out in search of parties and excitement. This was a fact that was initially—and still is—difficult for me to identify with. Throughout my life I have spent Friday nights at home with my family, resting after a busy week. Most weeks I can’t fathom getting dressed up and going out on the town on Friday nights. During the week I’m plenty busy, so it’s really on Friday nights that I miss my family and being home the most. Throughout my freshman and sophomore years of college I attended Shabbat services and dinner on campus every week, just to spend a quiet evening with familiar faces and practices, but in truth it wasn’t so familiar. In my family we only say a few basic prayers—we don’t go to services. Our real prayers are silent, through our stomachs, when we gather around the table and eat.

A family friend commented that her son, who graduated from college a few years ago, recently mentioned to her that while he was at college he really missed their family’s Shabbat dinners. “Everyone [i.e., relatives, family friends, etc.] thinks that college students just want to be left alone,” he said, “But it’s not true. On Fridays we really just want to relax and at least have a home-cooked meal if we can’t get home!” And it’s really true.

College hasn’t made me more of a believer in God or more of a Bible-reader/follower, but it has made me more aware of being Jewish and of what I truly appreciate about my religion. I have enjoyed college Shabbats, whether at the campus services and dinner or just on my own or with a few friends, but I know that regardless of where I live after graduation I will make a point of arranging Friday night dinners with family and/or friends. It’s a tradition that I miss and hope to reintroduce to my life permanently.

My first Georgetown Melting Pot

I want to start off my part of the blog by explaining the role interfaith cooperation and learning have played in my time at Georgetown, and why I am a part of the Melting pot. It all began early in my freshman year. My roommate and I had just moved into our room on Harbin 2. I thought I knew a lot about her before we had even spoken because I had noticed a few books on her bookshelf on one of our first days in Harbin: The Catechism, The Bible, and a large book on Catholocism. Based on my false conceptions of Catholocism, about which I knew little at the time, I expected her to be close-minded nd rigid in her beliefs. Just a few minutes with her and her cowboy boots proved me wrong, though.

Living with Lizzie has provided ample opportunities for interfaith dialogue. A particular conversation about Lent we had our freshman year helped me realize that several of our practices and values aligned. I had never fully understoof the purpose of Lent, but her explanation really resonated with me. She said that each time she exercised restraint in abstaining from something during Lent, she was reminded of God. Her explanation shed new light on certain aspects of my faith for me, including vegetarianism and Hindu holidays that involve fasting. Before our conversation, I had seen fasting as simply another part of a ritual. From just a few conversations, I learned that Lizzie had taken the time to consider for herself the merits and meaning of her faith and practices instead of blindly accepting them. She inspired me to do the same in practicing my own faith. I've definitely learned a lot about Catholocism from Lizzie, but more than that she has broadened my understanding of what it means to be a person of faith.

I hope that in the Melting Pot this year we can continue to learn about ourselves and each other by exploring our shared and divergent beliefs.

Lady Gaga... a religion for some, scantily clad for most

So, dearest readers, I have recently returned to our Magis home after witnessing one of the most religious of religious experiences for today's profane, lost youth: I saw Lady Gaga in concert at the Verizon Center. It was everything her "Monster Ball" promised to be. She made the requisite "You are all beautiful" speech. She appreciated her fans. Her fans obsessed and swooned over her. She played her pyrotechnic piano with a stiletto heel. You know, the usual.

What surprised me about this concert the second time around (yes, I've seen this concert 2 times... please no judgments) was the amount of religious imagery she presents to, what I assume is, her largely secular crowd. Well folks, maybe it was there the first time around and I missed it because of the sensory overload (or the drunk women dancing precariously close to my personal space) but I definitely saw a closer tie to religion in her DC concert compared with her one in NY. Granted, Lady Gaga's religions overtones include more Madonna than Ignatius, but they are present within nonetheless.

Let me break it down for those not crazy enough to see the spectacle for themselves.

1. Lady Gaga reveals herself in a "Flying Nun-like" habit... and in a bikini.

2. Lady Gaga performs in front of a crowd preaching tolerance towards others at the fringes of society (her charity of choice is for LGBTQ homeless & children)

3. Lady Gaga bathes in a replica of Bethesda fountain, complete with Angel statue spewing red water... and the statue is on fire

4. Lady Gaga bestows effusive compliments on "Jesus"'s love for both men and women... this takes a more suggestive tone when we consider that her almost naked bass player (with very long hair and washboard abs) is also named Jesus.

5. Lady Gaga stops her performance mid-song and dance in order to stop two audience members from fighting.

1. OK now for the nun outfit. I really don't have a comment about that except that she looked like Sally Fields in the "Flying Nun" series. Perhaps this was meant as a... nah I got nothin'.

2. Lady Gaga is nothing if not loyal to her fans. She peppers in inspirational thoughts and praises into the narrative of her concert. In DC she made open critiques about the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy in the American military. She frequently expresses her affection for those deemed weird or outside mainstream American society. The major theme of her brand (her music, her image etc) is ultimately about acceptance, and while sex sells her music, she seems to be making a directed effort in welcoming every type of person into her fold of devotees.

3. The Bethesda fountain angel was built (now in Central Park, NYC) to commemorate the Croton Aqueduct's giving NY reliably clean and potable water. The angel is said to be giving the water healing powers, referencing the Gospel of John Ch. 5 (I confess - I got this exact reference off of Wikipedia). Now in the concert, Gaga bathes in a replica of the Bethesda fountain... in red water. Red obviously evokes blood (not potable) but I think the imagery of Gaga baptizing herself in the "blessed water" is the real takeaway picture.

4. The Jesus reference was an obvious play off of a religious message... with a, er, highly erotic slant. Profane? Probably. But I think this was Gaga being tongue and cheek with not only her message of acceptance and forgiveness, but also the highly sexualized nature of her persona.

5. This was interesting. Gaga, in the middle of her dance / singing routine stopped the music in order to break up a fistfight which had broken out in the standing area in front of the stage. Letting aside her hawk-like perception, she took this moment (and she seemed genuinely concerned as far as I could tell from the jumbotron closeup) to preach about nonviolence and love. She did so while covered in fake blood, but hey - not all messages can be properly timed.

Well kids, this was my two cents. No Lady Gaga next time, I promise. I'll pick something a little more academic... maybe.

Sunday Afternoon with Some Jesuits

I have a good friend and mentor who's a Jesuit in the Georgetown community. Unfortunately, he's been battling a bad diagnosis this summer that has put him under the knife, in the hospital, and kept him out of the classroom for this fall semester (never a good thing for Jesuits). Now that I'm back at school, I've been visiting him, this afternoon included.

There are many things I enjoy about the Jesuits: they are generally speaking incredibly smart, or at least extraordinarily well-educated; they are the "Jedis" of the Church, seemingly using their powers of mind to challenge all evil in the world and school people in the proper way (not such a bad analogy, actually); and they are the old guys that "get it," about everything. I've had a few Jesuit priests in my family, and as my mother likes to remind me, there's nothing you can tell a Jesuit that he hasn't heard before. They'll dine with you, drink with you, and then they'll get you in line for heaven; what more could you want from a friend?

Here's what I enjoy most, though: the dialogue. When my boyfriend and I got to the "Jes Res," we sat down with my mentor and some of the other men in the community for a few hours. As my boyfriend said about his conversation with one Jesuit, "He sure packs a lot into a five minute talk." And indeed, the Jesuit had told him about a class he had taught, a theater and Catholic imagination course. The personal monologues his students came to tell the class were profound and inspiring -- one young man told of how he had learned to forgive again after his father had been killed on 9/11. Another Jesuit spoke to me about how many young people he had married over the years, and how he had kept in touch with them all through the ups and downs of their lives. My mentor and I discussed an article he had emailed me about theism and new discoveries in astrophysics. I told him about my disagreements with a professor over the historical context of political liberalism and the "principles" of justice outlined by John Rawls; that reminded him of another article he has in mind for me to read about the status of education in American universities.

I had gone to Mass before heading over to see the Jesuits, but I have to say that it was dialogue with the Jesuits that provided the greatest opportunity for self-reflection today. Who else could weave astrophysics and political philosophy into theology, while keeping the conversation as seemingly light as that about the weather? I can't help but be grateful to know these guys, for their humanity, their insight, and their community. So far as a Catholic education is different from any other kind, it's due to guides like them.

I don't know much about how this whole blogging thing works yet, but I guess that's my thought for the day.