By Jessa Salvador and Eve Robinson
Interfaith Service Coordinator and Interfaith Field Trip Coordinator
This post is part of our series on "College Campuses and Worldviews" Check out more by following the "College Campuses and Worldviews" tag.
Jessa
Before starting college I had a minimal amount of knowledge of different worldviews, I have never felt a connection to any specific worldview but enjoyed learning about them in school. I took Asian humanities during my senior year of high school which exposed me to some of the eastern worldviews such as Hinduism, Daoism, and Shintoism. That year I also toured the new Mormon temple that had been built in my community which allowed for an in-depth discussion with my friend about his faith. These experiences were what prompted me to seek out Interfaith upon my arrival at IWU 2 years ago. I wanted to explore the different worldviews and meet people from diverse backgrounds. The best experience that I have had with Interfaith was the Fall Break trip my freshman year where we went to Chicago for the weekend and toured a wide variety of faiths. Not only was the trip great for bonding with the people in Interfaith, but we also met with some faith leaders of the communities and learned about the practices and beliefs they have. I was exposed to faiths and worldviews I had not known about before and was amazed by the similarities/differences that they had whether they be monotheistic, polytheistic, spiritual, or other types of worldviews. I encourage everyone to engage in interfaith discussions to expand their knowledge of the world and their own personal beliefs.
Eve
My name is Eve Robinson, and I am a junior Nursing major. I am the treasurer of NAMI and the field trip coordinator for Interfaith. You may also see me around sporting events where I help manage the livestreams. I identify as an atheist. My family identifies as Christian but they are not too religious so they have never forced their views upon me. Even though I am an atheist, I understand that someone’s worldview can play a huge role in their life. There are so many different worldviews out there and everyone interprets each one differently. No two people are the same. Our campus is filled with students and staff from across the globe. It is impossible to be aware of every aspect of every worldview so it is a constant learning process for all. Everyone should feel comfortable stating their worldview no matter what it is. In order to have an inclusive campus, everyone has to be respectful of each other and willing to learn about worldviews other than their own. You do not have to believe in someone’s worldview to respect them. Spaces like the Evelyn Chapel and the various religious, spiritual, and secular groups on campus are a way that many students are able to share their worldviews while simultaneously learning from others. All of these spaces and more are ways that students can relate and learn from each other in order to make the campus feel more at home for all.
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