Religious Emphasis Week sparks questions about spirituality
Izak Shapiro
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Features
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Robinson's discussion was part of Religious Emphasis Week at Guilford, which spanned the week of Jan. 23, and included speakers Diane Elliot and Vanessa Julye, as well as explorations of various faiths and religious movements.
Guilford students and members of the Greensboro community packed the pews, giving Robinson a goose-bump-raising round of applause as he stepped up to the microphone and began to explain his religious philosophy.
According to Robinson, fear, not hate, opposes love. Welcoming those whose lifestyles differ from ours should be a priority.
"We should have infinite respect for one another, and radical hospitality for the world," said Robinson, describing the unofficial motto of his parish.
"He was beyond what I could have expected," said sophomore Sarah Bentley, head of GCRO and coordinator of Religious Emphasis Week.
Bentley explained that the theme of the week was challenging preexisting ideas of religion. She invited her lifelong friend Diane Elliot, who practices Sufism, a sect of Islam that focuses on the religion's mystical aspects, to share her religion with students on Jan. 26.
"We will have universal peace if we eat, dance, and pray together," said Elliot, whose irresistible energy kept the participating students on the community center dance floor for over an hour.
They danced as a circular group, sang whatever Elliot told them to, and shook maracas when appropriate. At the end of each song, Elliot closed her eyes, and the group let out a sigh. A feeling of spiritual connection filled the subsequent silence.
"It's traditional to look into the person's eye," said Bentley, reflecting on how to interact with her dance partners. "It's a way of saying, 'I see the light in you.'"
Where Sufism aims to eliminate the possibility of struggle through dance, the week's first guest, Vanessa Julye, dedicates her life to telling others of her struggles within her religion of Quakerism. Julye shared her difficulties in her Quaker tradition on Jan. 25 in the dining hall auditorium.
Julye co-authored the book "Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship," in which she highlights how Quakers, by enslaving African Americans and alienating them from Quaker libraries, have not always lived up to their reputation of upholding equality.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jin from TN
Jin from TN
posted 2/05/10 @ 2:02 PM EST
Shapiro's description of the REW events is interesting, and I think one of the best questions raised is "How do we apply what we discuss?"
It's easy to apply our ethical principles after experiencing an event that builds communication and friendship – and even more so after an epiphany, whether within a religious framework or not. (Continued…)
Clark
posted 2/07/10 @ 4:46 PM EST
Thank you for covering this story. For future reference you should know that Gene Robinson is an Episcopal bishop and an Episcopalian. The latter form is a noun, not an adjective. (Continued…)
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