Sharing Religion

There are a couple of blogs that I enjoy reading several times a week. One of them is called CJane Run http://blog.cjanerun.com/. Courtney posted this video on her blog and I found it fascinating and want to share it.

If you want the backstory as to how I found her blog it involves the internet, other bloggers, her sister Stephanie, a plane crash, a blog called NieNie and world-wide web support for a family in crisis. It's a good story - but not the focus of the story I want to share today.

"On September 23, 2008, five Harvard undergraduates were interviewed by journalist for the Washington Post, Sally Quinn, about their religious convictions. Students represented Islam, Mormonism, Judaism, Presbyterianism and Buddhism. Before an audience of approximately 50 students, faculty and chaplains of diverse religions at Beren Hall at Harvard Hillel, these five students were asked to reveal their ’spiritual biographies.’ The panel discussion was titled “Engaging Religious Difference: Personal Quests for Purpose” and was part of day long series of events on “Faith Live on the Harvard Campus: Personal Quest, Public Conversation, and Global Citizenship." http://summatheologica.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/harvard-undergraduate-explains-her-mormon-faith/

Rachel Esplin is a junior at Harvard and was asked to represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is a video of her question and answer segment. This young woman does a magnificent job representing Latter-day Saints. She was well-spoken, articulate, clear and concise while covering each question honestly and in-depth. She didn't seem practiced, just very comfortable with her convictions and beliefs. Her testimony shone through everything that she said. Rob said, "Well, she is at Harvard, after all".

It's not a short video, so you could watch it in segments or sit back and watch the whole thing at once.

Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose - 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

Alaina, if this is the type of student that would be attending institute and your student ward in Boston, then get yourself a good scholarship and let's go check out B.U.!

FYI - Harvard Hillel (the organization that sponsored this event) is the catalyst for Jewish life at Harvard, serving the cultural, religious, educational, social, and political needs of all segments of the undergraduate and graduate Jewish student communities (taken directly from their website). If you want to see any of the other students responses click on the Vimeo link and search there for Day of Faith: Personal Quests