Many Faiths, One Humanity
Destination of Many Faiths, One Humanity for 2013 Spring: London
Travel time: March 6 - March 17, 2013
Application deadline has been extended. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Application forms (A tentative itinerary included) are available at dean's office, lower level of Hendricks Chapel; or you could also download it here. Please submit the completed application form to our office. People of all faiths and no particular faith are invited. For funding inquiries, please call us at 443-5044 or send email to Ginny Yerdon at gyerdon@syr.edu.
Overview:
Many Faiths, One Humanity is a Spring Break study and travel experience which takes 12 to 20 religiously and spiritually diverse students on an international sojourn to explore global religious pluralism through the lens of our common humanity. Conceived as an effort in experiential learning Many Faiths, One Humanity has transformative possibilities for participants, the wider university community, and beyond.
These trips are designed not as a short-term, feel good experience in “getting along,” but as an invitation to the hard work of continuing dialogue, cooperation, and respect that is a lifetime experience. Participants are not asked to ignore the unique claims of their own faith traditions, but rather to reflect on their own tradition at a deeper level and to explore the claims of diverse faiths.
We search for new strategies for people of many faiths and lifestances to build intentional and constructive relationships. Our hope is that these experiences will enable us to imagine new ways of living in this global environment that break down destructive barriers of prejudice, stereotypes and mistrust.
History:
The idea for Many Faiths, One Humanity interfaith travel experience was conceived by Thomas V. Wolfe, SU’s senior vice president and dean of student affairs, when he served as dean of Hendricks Chapel. “We wanted to put a human face on the issues of how diverse faith communities have historically shared and continue to share life together,” Wolfe says. “On campus and beyond, we hope our experience will increase awareness of the three faith traditions’ contemporary issues and spark renewed dialogue towards understanding and cooperation.”
The first trip took place in 2003, when students travelled to Spain. Since then students have travelled to Turkey (2007), Jerusalem (2009) and London (2011). To find out more about these trips and to read journal entries from participating students, follow these links:
Application Process:
Undergraduate students from SU and ESF of many faith traditions and lifestances (including, but not limited to Atheist/Agnostic, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, and Pagan) are encouraged to apply to create a balanced community for this unique experience.
Students are selected on the basis of their passion and commitment to interfaith engagement, their willingness to share their own values and beliefs with others, and their openness to learning across theological and ideological divides. We will select 12 to 20 students to represent a wide diversity of faith traditions and lifestances.
This is more than just a chance to travel. It is an invitation to explore and to share your experience with others. Thus, the preparation for the trip and the dissemination of the experience are as important as the trip itself. Students selected to be part of this exciting program are expected to:
- Attend an interactive, community building course on Monday evenings during the entire spring semester. Each session will be two hours. Students may work with their academic advisors to receive credit as an independent study, though that is not required.
- Actively participate in all parts of the travel experience, including travel, discussions and joint projects.
- Plan and present a university exhibition that details the experience for others. In the past students have created an art installation, held panel discussions, and hosted an interfaith youth group for area high school students.
Students are expected to fund their trip through scholarships, grants, gifts and personal contributions. In the past, trips have ranged in cost from $2500 to $4000 depending on destination. The cost covers all travel, lodging, entrance fees, program costs, and most meals.
Applications are available online in the Spring semester the year prior to travel.
Words From Students...
"As we travelled through London together, we all slowly became closer with one another. I learned so much about everyone in our group based on their faiths, traditions, and beliefs."
- Maha Fakhruddin ('12)
"Every single person in the group enriched me with knowledge about their faith tradition in one way or another. I've learned that prayer and ritual is just as important in other people's faith tradition as it is in mine."
- Ali Ali ('11)
"What we all learned on this trip was that no matter how many differences people may have in what they believe or think, we in the end are all the same and equal. We are all human, we all have emotions, we all have thoughts, and we all have a heart."
- Ammad Khalid ('13)
"I am now with UNICEF as a Global Citizenship Fellow. This fellowship also has a huge emphasis on anti-human trafficking, which involves raising awareness and working with anti-human trafficking organizations. A lot of my work will be with interfaith organizations and trying to bring faith-based communities together and empower all Americans to support and help out with UNICEF's goals and initiatives. I do believe that Many Faiths, One Humanity really prepared me for this fellowship, and I hope to fully make use of all the interfaith dialogue I learned through you for this amazing opportunity; it has been such a tremendous asset to me, and I am very thankful I was able to be a part of it. I'm so excited to take everything I have learned on campus and in London and put it into action with UNICEF, an organization I am so passionate about."
- Meena Haque ('11)
