Religion. To many, it is a meaningless word. It is a way of losing a sense of individuality by conforming to an organized group which follows a set ideology. But to others, religion plays an integral role in life. It represents a belief in a higher being. It maintains traditions handed down over centuries. And still other students are apathetic toward religion, failing to form an opinion either way. Wharton senior Fred Gluckman said religion is essentially a personal matter. "[The word] religion to me is ambiguous," he said. "It is a matter of belief. You can be religious as long as you believe in it. I consider myself to be religious." Although religious observance may symbolize different things to different people, those who choose to be religious devote much of their time to religion. In fact, religion may play such an important role in a person's life that it may take away from students' studies and social life. Yet, like many college students, University students have much to do. They have busy schedules. And many find they often have to juggle their time between classes, extra-curricular activities and sometimes even part-time jobs in order to follow their faith. Students who choose to observe their religions said this week they sometimes have a difficult time finding enough minutes in each day. They must find time to pray and attend religiously oriented activities. Often, this adds a strain on their schedules. College freshman Elyse Dorkin said in addition to studying for class she also makes an effort to learn about her religion. "I put some time into learning Judaic studies as well as my regular course load," she said. Nursing freshman Jina Wye, who considers herself to be "more religious than many students at Penn" said that she has to manage her time wisely in order to be both a religious Baptist and to succeed in academics. And, she added, going to church weekly also affects her social life. "I set aside certain days of the week to go to church so I can't exactly party on Friday nights," she said. "And I have to wake up early on Sunday mornings so I can't exactly spend my Saturday nights drinking." But Wye said she does not feel that being religious makes her less social. "I don't feel like I'm missing out, because things like drinking and partying are not my idea of a good time," she said. "Instead I go to the movies, hang out with friends and talk. I still go to parties every once in while, but I don't get drunk." College freshman Sadaf Kazmi, a practicing Muslim, said she too avoids fraternity parties and drinking. And since, she said, she and other Muslims pray five times a day, her religion does take a significant amount of time. She added, however, that she does not see her religion as interfering with her social life. "It doesn't bother me," Kazmi said. "I feel this is what I decided to do. It's not what's expected of me, it's what I want to do." Kazmi said that while there are few Muslim students at the University, her friends are "for the most part open- minded." "Most people here aren't Muslim," Kazmi said. "But, my friends who aren't Muslim are accepting." College sophomore Nick Merkin, who is an observant Jew, said being religiously observant can affect a student's social life. "Let's just say that going to frat parties is not concurrent with the lifestyle I wish to lead as an Orthodox Jew," he said. Merkin also agreed that being religiously observant can monopolize a student's time, but he said there are ways to plan around religious obligations. "In actual time commitment it's not that much time," Merkin said. "It can present problems when, for example, I'd have to wake up earlier than I'd like [in order] to pray?but I'm usually able to work my schedule around that." Merkin added that because he observes the Sabbath -- the Jewish day of rest -- his time is also restricted. "I don't schedule classes late Friday afternoon because of interference with the Sabbath," Merkin said. Gluckman, also an observant Jew, said the Sabbath monopolizes his time. "[The Sabbath] restricts the time that I am available to do things that the average student would do," he said. "Sabbath takes up a whole time block that other students would use to socialize or do work." But, although religious observance may take up students' time, often religious prohibitions such as dietary laws affect students' every day life as well. College freshman Mital Sheth, who practices Hinduism, says that his religion prohibits him from eating particular foods. "My religion prohibits meat, but I don't 'not' eat meat because of that," Sheth said. "Rather, it's a cultural thing for me." Wharton freshman Nealesh Shah said his religion, Jainism, also places restrictions on his diet. "My religion stresses being as non-violent as you can be," Shah said. "For that reason many [won't kill animals] and are vegetarian." Dorkin, who keeps Kosher -- a law which limits the types of food observant Jews can eat -- said that adhering to strict dietary laws sometimes makes it difficult to socialize with some of her hallmates and be a part of the "conventional freshman experience." "I think that keeping Kosher causes a big distinction to be made between people who are religious[Jews] and people who are not," she said. "I know that eating is a very social thing and when my friends go to regular dining halls, I go to Hillel." Dorkin added that while keeping Kosher causes her to "miss out" on the dining hall experience, she would never stop following the Jewish law. "I would never give up eating at Hillel or observing Judaism," she said. "I would never compromise my Judaic values for anything that I feel that I am missing out on at Penn." Many students share Dorkin's views about religion and added that the fulfillment they receive from their religious communities replaces what they felt they might be losing by being "different." Engineering freshman Vicki Chan said she likes being part of a united community. She added that participation in religious study groups reinforces her religious beliefs. "The Christian community [at the University] is very close-knit," Chan said. "There are fellowships on Friday nights and there are small groups on Tuesdays. And for example at Living Water, the fellowship I attend [weekly], we sing praise songs and have speakers or graduate students who talk about certain themes." Chan added that being religious also gives her a different perspective on various parts of her life. "In certain situations, because of my religious perspectives, I can handle things in a different way," Chan said. "I recently bombed a biology midterm. The normal non-Christian might be mad, but I looked at it as a sign, a way that God is trying to tell me something. "You use good things and bad things that happen in your life to see how God is working in your life," she added. While students like Chan and Wye praised the religious opportunities available to them at the University, other students complained of the lack of a place to worship. Sheth, who is a Hindu, said that he is unable to be as religious as he would like because there is no Hindu temple at the University or in the Philadelphia community. "I think the lack of the Hindu temple in Penn's atmosphere prevents me from praying [on certain holidays]," Sheth said. "I went home for Diwali [the Hindu festival of lights which celebrates the new year] to pray." Shah, who practices Jain, also agreed that it is difficult for him to get to his temple, because there is not one nearby. "I've gone to temple [in New Jersey] twice since I've been here," Shah said. "Hopefully, I'll get to go up again." But, Shah explained, although he is far away from his temple, this does not deter him from being religious. "I still pray every night," Shah said. College freshman Jugdeep Bal, who is a Sikh, said he is unable to go to his temple, Gurudwara, because of different reasons. "It's a combination of work and actually getting there," Bal said. "I don't know how to get there and I don't have a means of getting there. I'm from Ohio and the closest one that I go to is in Pittsburgh." While many students are fervently religious but feel they just do not have access to places of worship, others say they feel they cannot be religious at all in the University environment. Nursing freshman Christie Leperi said that prior to attending the University she was religious. "I went to church every Sunday," Leperi said. "[But] I don't feel like I have the time here. It feels like it's a weekend here all the time." Leperi added that she feels she always has something to do. She said when she was at home, she may have been religious primarily for social reasons. "I don't feel like people think that it's an important part of college or Penn," Leperi said. "It doesn't bother me that people aren't that religious [here]. Since it was there when I was at home, I did it. Being at home, it might have been a social thing." Leperi also said that at home she had more of a Catholic influence than she does at school. She attributed the change in her level of observance to this. "Where I came from was a big Catholic area, so they had a lot of things to do," Leperi said. "[Here] since there is so much diversity, one religion is not more played up than the other. No one is going to tell you to go to Mass." College freshman Catherine Ross, who considers herself an agnostic, said she has never been nor is she religious now. "The religious organizations on campus are intimidating," Ross said. "I don't like the idea of conforming to one group's opinion. I like to think of myself as an individual at Penn, not a Jew at Penn or a Christian at Penn or a Hindu at Penn." But, Ross said that while she is not religious she is not opposed to religion in general. "I don't have a problem with it," Ross said. "Some of my best friends are religious. That's how they choose to spend their time. It's important to them." "My friends who are non-observant are very understanding and accommodating," Dorkin said. In general, many students said they felt other students were supportive as well as inquisitive of their religious beliefs. "People at Penn have taken a great interest in my religion," said Sheth. "They'll ask me a lot of questions. People are very open to it. I haven't encountered anyone against the Hindu religion." Other students felt that the University provides a setting where people can understand more about other people's religions in addition to their own. "The whole idea of college is freedom of thought," said Wye. "It's a lot easier to be open about your religion in college. In high school, if I would've prayed before my meal, my friends would give me weird looks. Here people don't care." Merkin praised the different religious opportunities available to students at the University. "I think that Penn in particular is unique," he said. "There is such a diversity of people here that anyone can feel comfortable here regardless of their religious affiliation. There's so much for everyone." Gluckman said that his religious observance and his desire to learn about the religions of others adds "another flavor to what goes on here at Penn." "By being involved with other people who are involved with different things, it strengthens my beliefs and hopefully it strengthens their beliefs," he said. Students said religion will always be a highly debated topic. Some will argue that religion is outdated or unnecessary. Others will stress its importance. But students said listening to different opinions will help many to understand more about those around them. "I can learn from them and they can learn from me," Gluckman said.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
