Next week, I’m going to be a panelist at an on-campus event on “Challenges to Faith at Harvard”. The event raises the issue of the social & intellectual pressures that life at Harvard places on one’s faith. I would certainly be interested to hear all your perspectives on this in the comments.
Despite growing up in a community with a relatively sizeable Hindu minority, I rarely discussed issues of faith outside my immediate family. Religion was mostly a cultural phenomenon. Becoming a part of Harvard Dharma marked the first time that I engaged in a discussion of philosophical issues surrounding my faith with Hindu peers. Both the Hindu community, and the Harvard community at large, have affected my conception of faith, and my perspective on the world around me.
I can think of at least two ways that the Harvard experience has influenced my perspective on spirituality. I feel the atmosphere at the college impels one, perceptively or imperceptively, to develop more rigorous intellectual foundations for one’s beliefs than society in general expects. As a result, I’ve thought not only about what I believe, but also the reasons for that belief. Of course, my beliefs are in an inchoate state, and I’d love to hear not just what you believe, but especially why you believe it.
A second, equally powerful influence, has been the dialogue I’ve been able to engage in with other Hindus. Being able to discuss moral issues with people who all share, to a reasonable extent, a common set of values has given helped me learn more about my own sense of faith. An oft-overlooked impact of this community is a certain level of awareness that affords us the luxury of not constantly having people question our beliefs simply because they are unfamiliar with them. However, the social pressures from outside the community are often replaced by pressure from within the community. What are your thoughts on the relative roles of external & internal social pressure?
The event organizers want us to think about ways in which the Harvard experience has either bolstered or challenged our faith. The best answer I can think of is this: Harvard makes you ask more questions about your religious beliefs. Whether this experience strengthens or weakens the foundations of your faith is up to you.
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