Georgetown Appoints Its First Hindu Priest As Chaplain | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Georgetown Appoints Its First Hindu Priest As Chaplain

This isn't the first time the university has made such a bold move

17
Georgetown Appoints Its First Hindu Priest As Chaplain
Wikimedia

Too often these days we hear about religious intolerance and the conflicts that arise when two or more religions are placed side by side in a community. The United States, being a melting pot of culture and ethnicities, is also an inter-religious society, and should lead the way in promoting religious tolerance and understanding. Well, Georgetown did just that.

The Washington based, oldest Roman Catholic university just recently announced its appointment of a Hindu priest as chaplain, after the first Hindu chaplain left due to personal reasons. This is, in fact, the "first Hindu priest to serve in the role of chaplain at any university in the United States," for many institutions either hire monks (who are not as trained as a priest) or ask common practitioners to step in as a Hindu chaplain.

The new chaplain, Brahmachari Vrajvihari Sharan, trained as a priest in ashrams in India and is a PhD holder in Sanskrit from the University of Edinburg. He has taught at universities in Wales and London and is now part of spreading the Georgetown's philosophy of educating students, both spiritually and socially. Given the university's decent population (roughly three to four-hundred) of Hindu students, faculty and staff, and the presence of the Hindu Student Association (HSA), it was a major move by the university to make sure their students feel included in the community.

While many are critiquing Georgetown's actions in this matter, this isn't the first time the university has embraced its religious diversity on campus. In the past, the university as appointed a rabbi (1968) and an imam (1998) as chaplain to include its Jewish and Muslim minorities. To the university, leading the way in educating students about different religions is not counterintuitive. The university wants its students to have a "deeper understanding of their spiritual self and their place in an inter religious society".

Personally, I applaud this move by the university, for it gives respect to both its Catholic roots and at the same time, encourages respect and support for those who come from other faiths as well. Being Hindu myself and having exposure to other faiths since I was a kid, I would like to see more universities and communities trying hard to actually educate others on the diversity that exists in our beliefs. To hire a priest versus having just someone step in to teach about things that cannot be defined to mere words is a major thing. One, it shows the willingness to care about those who practice the religion and two, it reduced the chance of misunderstanding of faiths (given you have a well-trained person talking). I hope that many more universities and communities follow suite in promoting religious tolerance and acceptance, and that violence doesn't have to be caused because one believed differently from another anymore.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

444550
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

18070
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

42358
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

21761
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

322171
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments