[think] Exploring Different Religions in Wichita
“You’re in college, that’s what’s supposed to happen.”
This is what my friend tells me when I vent to her about how confused I am something or how I’m not sure what I believe. While she’s right and I should probably stop trying to have it all figured out at age 20, I’m definitely in the middle of those “turbulent years of finding myself.” I attribute a huge part of my personal growth to my spiritual curiosity, whether it’s making sure my Chakras are aligned or simply wanting to learn more about different religions. So as a part of my list of 2010 New Year’s Resolutions, I vowed to delve deeper into the religious world and take some classes. While I’m still amidst my search for a new sacred discovery, here are my findings on Wichita’s religion education scene.
I just finished a “Taste of Judaism” class at a local synagogue. This class was an overview of all the major components of the religion with an emphasis on holidays and beliefs on life stages. If you’re interested in getting in touch with your Biblical patriarchs, contact The Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation. They can tell you when classes will be offered at local synagogues, often based on interest.
Islamic Society of Wichita has several options for classes. “Fundamentals of Islam” covers a wide range of topics, including The Qur’an, Conditions of the Declaration of Faith, Purification & Prayer, Prostrations of Forgetfulness, Morals & Manners of a Muslim, and Funeral Rites. This is also an ongoing class and just recently began meeting. ISW has varied office hours and can be reached at (316) 682-5479.
If you’re not ready to step outside your religious comfort zone, all area colleges have introductory religion classes and many Christian churches offer diverse education and include other religions in their curriculum. The Universalist Unitarian church is known for that. If you’re not involved with an adult Sunday school at your religious institution, it’s a good place to start. Ask your place of worship if they cover it; if not, ask if you can include it. Most of the time, they’ll appreciate your suggestion and want to work with you.
A popular course at Wichita State is Religion 327: Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion. It explores various concepts concerning the realm of the supernatural all over the world. So if you want a deeper understanding of what drives the Twilight generation or why I doodle “Veronica Potter” on my notebooks, this would be a good fit for you.
If you’re interested in hearing different religions’ viewpoints on various issues, the Wichita State Political Science Club is hosting a series where leaders from three different religious institutions attend and comment on their perspective. It began late last year and will continue throughout the semester.
Religion Series:
February 2010: Religion and Politics
March 2010: Religion and War
April 2010: Religion and Social Justice
May 2010: Religion and Abortion
Political Series:
February 2010: Religion and Politics
March 2010: Political Series: Understanding the Israel & Palestine Conflict
April 2010: Political Series: Re-addressing the Death Penalty
Hopefully this is enough to get you started on your quest for spiritual enlightenment. Remember, it’s OK to experiment and figure out what works best for you. Sometimes that unwritten pressure to conform to certain practices can be crippling. I’m a firm believer in the right to pick your own beliefs. If you know of any other classes or places of divine encounters, let us know in the comments!
Photo by Chad Glenn
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