Most of the diversity we speak of is associated with race, socio-economic status, and gender identity. Meanwhile, faith systems often receive little notice, despite being a central aspect of Choate’s diversity. From organized religion to atheism and everything in between, the spectrum of religious and non-religious identities is wide on campus.
Many students who identify as religious ascribe to some form of Christianity. Even within the Christian religion, however, students consider themselves part of a wide variety of denominations, including but not limited to Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and Episcopalian traditions. Other students, such as Brian Tung ’16, identify as non-denominational Christians.
A faith group called Christian Fellowship meets every Monday night to sing, pray, discuss Biblical text, and simply hang out. Tung, a leader of the group, shared, “Definitely one of the strengths of Christian Fellowship is our diversity, because it allows us to transcend our very minute differences and to have fellowship with a greater Christian body.”
Another religion with which many students on campus identify is Islam. The Muslim Student Association (MSA) offers a place for Muslim students to come together to pray, talk about their lives, and have fun in a comfortable environment. Students in MSA also enjoy Halal food, meaning it has been prepared in a way that complies with the specifications in the Qur’an, the Islamic holy text.
For MSA member Saleha Farooqui ’18, one of the best aspects of the group is the bonding experience, such as when they redecorated their common space. “Laughing with the other members of the group while we moved around furniture, painted canvases, and put up wall decals was truly memorable,” she said.
On Friday nights, many students can be found in Spears Commons enjoying each other’s company as part of Hillel, a Jewish organization advised by Rabbi Barbara Paris. Members of Hillel engage in everything from religious ceremonies such as lighting Shabbat candles to simple, fun activities like cooking challah or potato latkes. Rabbi Paris views Hillel as “a place where Jewish students can be comfortable to share their feelings or worries.”
Furthermore, the Buddhist Meditation group, led by Mr. James Davidson, Choate’s Meditation Leader, offers students of diverse religious and nonreligious backgrounds a chance to come together for spiritual mindfulness and self-discovery. Meditation also allows many students an avenue for relief from their stressful school lives.
Hinduism is yet another religion present on campus, though one with which few students actively identify. Niraj Desai ’19, a devout Hindu, worships about eight of the 330 million deities and keeps two idols in his room. Among his religious rituals, Niraj prays every day, in the morning and at night, as well as before taking any assessment (to Saraswati, the goddess of education).
Some students have largely underrepresented religious beliefs. Sorab Sandhawalia ’16 is the only student on campus who practices Sikhism, a monotheistic religion that emerged in Punjab in the 15th century and emphasizes a set of core values, including hard work and honesty.
Despite the absence of a Sikh faith group on campus, Sandhawalia has ways of practicing his religion individually, such as by reading the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture. As he wears a turban, Sandhawalia says his integration into the Choate community “was hard at first. It’s still hard, but I think Choate has been very welcoming.”
Other students have spiritual beliefs without ascribing to any established religion. Sydney Jones ’17 took inspiration from a variety of preexisting faiths and created her own unique religion. Some of the ways she practices her religion are meditating, praying, and abstaining from eating red meat. Inspired by Anne Lamott’s book Traveling Mercies, she believes, “No matter who you are and what you’ve done, you always deserve to be treated with love.”
Of course, not all students are religious. Many identify as atheist, others as agnostic, and still others don’t wish to categorize their beliefs.
Zemia Edmondson ’16 identifies as agnostic atheist, meaning she does not believe in a god but is open to the possibility. She considers herself a spiritual person. “I feel a connection to the earth and a connection to the world and to other people that’s transcendent beyond myself,” she said. Edmondson also finds that not having “a religious community or a book to fall back on” gives her a sense of “increased independence.”
Ultimately, the Choate community is composed of individuals of vastly different belief systems, but those contrasts are what give the community its current shape. The Rev. Ally Brundige was right when she said, “We are a diverse community, and I think our spiritual beliefs and religious identities and non-religious identities influence how we interact and therefore influence our culture at large.”
