Last week a small group of religious protestors came to the lawn to inform students that they were "sinners, sodomizers and masturbators" who were "all going to hell." A similar demonstration occurred last year when the Woroniecki family visited the lawn with banners that read, "Satan Rules! Turn to Jesus Not 'Church'!" These demonstrators clearly see the need to evangelize at one of the nation's oldest secular institutions of higher learning.
However, many students involved in religious organizations on Grounds disputed these demonstrators' assessment of the student body, as well as their tactics.
"I think the protesters miss the point," Presbyterian Student Fellowship moderator Molly Lester said. "I think that religion and faith has given me hope instead of fear."
Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship President Selah Mun said that she believes religious organizations have a "strong presence" on Grounds.
Diversity of Faith
The Student Activities Center lists 40 religious organizations ranging from the Muslim Student Association to Virginia Atheists and Agnostics.
These groups often help new students feel more connected with the University community.
"I think religious groups help students find their niche," Dean of Students Penny Rue said.
Religious organizations also help students find a certain familiarity at college.
"You automatically have something in common with someone who comes from the same faith background," Crystal Scott, president of the Latter-Day Saints Student Association, said.
The large variety of organizations often gives students the opportunity to find both a religious and a cultural niche.
The Chinese Christian Fellowship is an example of an organization that links both religion and ethnic background, although it welcomes members of all nationalities. According to Chinese Christian Fellowship President William Barratt, the organization exists because Chinese students might feel more comfortable in that kind of environment.
Some students also find that these organizations help them find the connection between their religion and college life.
"At Hillel at least, we have the opportunity to combine the outside general culture with being Jewish," Hillel Jewish Student Union President Daniel Crane said. "We don't have to stop being Jewish when we go to class, we can have that identity anytime."
Religious and Nonreligious Activities
In addition to religious observance, many religious organizations on Grounds participate in social and service events.
According to Crane, Hillel hosted a Sukkot Sleepout last week and raised more than $7,000 for a local homeless shelter.
Catholic Student Ministry Chair Kevin Simowitz said the organization holds social dinners, service events and even fields intramural sports teams, in addition to religious services.
Black Voices, a Christian gospel choir, holds concerts every semester. However, Black Voices Tomi Oredein asserts that singing alone does not define the organization's purpose.
"We are a Christian organization, that does not mean if you're not Christian you have to leave," Oredein said. "But it means that we are centered on Jesus Christ."
Church and State
In spite of its secular heritage, many students feel the influence of religious organizations at the University.
"I think there is a great presence and a great diversity of presence of religion on Grounds," Lester said.
Alex Campbell, publicity chair of Virginia Atheists and Agnostics, said he agreed that religious organizations had a very large presence at the University. Campbell added that he feels this strong religious presence was somewhat incongruous with the beliefs and intentions of Thomas Jefferson. When Jefferson planned the University, he centered it around the Rotunda, a library, instead of a chapel. He called the Rotunda a "Temple of Knowledge."
"It's kind of ironic that we have such a strong religious presence, but its southern Virginia, what would you expect?" Campbell said.
Oredein agreed that the strong presence of religion at the University was somewhat unexpected.
"I was surprised that there were organizations such as Black Voices and Impact with serious Christians who were not afraid to sing about their faith," Oredein said.
However, other students argued that the influence of religion was a direct consequence of the large student body.
"I don't think the presence is as large as I would expect for such a huge campus size," Scott said.
Lester said she thought that the presence of religion on Grounds was a good thing, so long as it did not lead to intolerance.
"I think that the presence of religion should be felt, but I don't think it should be forced on anybody," Lester said.
Keeping the Faith
The pervasive nature of religion on Grounds can create an atmosphere in which some students feel unwelcome because of their religious beliefs.
Campbell said he has felt ostracized at the University because he is an atheist.
"I've had people stop talking to me just because I don't believe in god," Campbell said.
Campbell called Virginia Atheists and Agnostics a "gathering point" for people who have been ostracized by others.
"It not like we're attacked for being atheist generally, but were we to be as active as a lot religious organizations about our beliefs, we would be called jerks," Campbell said.
Scott said she has felt intolerance not only at the University but in America as a whole.
"One thing that concerns me is that it's okay to be any religion except Christian," Scott said. "If someone were to make an anti-Muslim comment they would be punished harshly, but with anti-Christian comments, people just laugh and go on their merry way."
Other students find that the strong presence of multiple religions at the University helps to put their religion in the context of the greater world.
"I think it's great that Virginia is a secular institution," Catholic Student Ministry Chair Kevin Simowitz said. "The idea is never for Catholicism to exist outside of culture."
Interfaith Dialogue
In the pursuit of greater understanding, many religious organizations on Grounds come together to host events, do service or exchange ideas about their beliefs.
According to Muslim Student Association Publicity Chair Sana Anwar, the organization was able to participate in an interfaith event with the Catholic Student Ministry earlier in the month of Ramadan. CSM held a pancake breakfast for the Muslim students before they began fasting that day for Ramadan.
Mun said that Christian Fellowships on Grounds often come together forevents.
Religious organizations often co-sponsor service events. Last year's Hunger Banquet was sponsored by Hillel Jewish Student Union, Catholic Student Ministry, Muslim Student Association, Latter-Day Saints Student Association, Presbyterian Student Fellowship, Canterbury Episcopal Fellowship, Wesley Foundation, Baha'i Student Association and Virginia Unitarian Universalist Students, as well as other non-religious organizations.
There are also organizations specifically devoted to learning about and discussing different faiths. One of these organizations is the Interfaith Dialogue Community.
"We're a non-sectarian club, we have no real agenda except to learn about different religions," Interfaith Dialogue Community president Ben Schewel said.
Crane agreed that interfaith dialogue can be beneficial to the University community.
"I believe there is the need for the opportunity of exchange of ideas in a non-threatening way," Crane said.
Religious Freedom
Many students objected to the message and the tactics of last week's religious demonstrators.
"I think there should be some regulation through the University to prevent this sort of thing," Oredein said.
Some students said they believed that there is a need for evangelization, but that last week's protesters were going about things the wrong way.
"Sure there is a need for evangelization on Grounds, but it should be more through living out what they believe rather than preaching and condemning," InterVarsity Christian Fellowship president Betsy Hutson said.
Simowitz agreed that evangelization is not based purely on preaching.
"How we live is more important than what we say and what we scream on the South Lawn," Simowitz said.
However, many students agree that the protesters have a right to be there and speak out about what they believe in.
"The University is under no responsibility to force people to follow a certain morality, it has an obligation to allow people to practice any religion and learn about any religion in freedom, that's going to mean they have to allow this sort of protest," Schewel said.
In this way, religious demonstrations on the Lawn are the consequence of Thomas Jefferson's own beliefs in religious freedom.
"We not only allow it, we actually celebrate it," Rue said.
Read More
Class of 2024 celebrates graduation at final exercises
By Finn Trainer | 4 days agoIn his opening remarks, University President Jim Ryan praised the graduating class for their resilience during challenging times.
U.Va. Alumni Association submits plans for new Alumni Hall building
By Caroline Hagood | 6 days agoWest said that despite the proposal moving through City Council’s review process, the project is still years away from becoming a reality.
Graduating student leaders reflect on how they impacted the University community
By Jackie Bond and Brandon Kile | May 18, 2024According to Lilian Rojas, Board of Visitors student representative and fourth-year Batten student, the Class of 2024 is defined by its resilience.
