Undergraduate Programs

Student Spotlight

Astara Light

I am a sophomore and a direct-admit student in the Religious Studies department. I am also minoring in French and plan to pursue a dual degree in Religious Studies and Interior Design. I have always been interested in the religions of the world and their connection to different cultures and civilizations. I first became interested in the Religious Studies department when I took R153, Religions of the East, through the OPEN program, which allows high school students to attend university classes for credit. The OPEN program was a very rewarding opportunity, for although I only took two classes, E251, Traditional East Asian Civilization, and Religions of the East, I had a sense of the opportunities available for studying different traditions through IU. My focus in the Religious Studies program is comparative religion; I am fascinated with those things that are universal to all religions, races, and cultures. I have a particular interest in the religions of East Asia, especially Zen Buddhism, Shinto, and Hinduism. 

As a freshman I was admitted into the Hutton Honors College, which offers many possibilities for students to further challenge themselves in the academic field. The classes I have taken through the Honors College have been quite rewarding. These classes allow students to work in small groups in close proximity to their instructors, they often provide the opening for dynamic discussions that probe deeper into the subject matter than is possible in normal classes. I have found that although the Honors courses are more demanding at times than other classes, the paths open for further understanding of the material are well worth the effort. In the same way the religious studies honors courses are a real pleasure since they allow students to approach the study of religion in a multi-dimensional way.

In the time I have spent at IU Bloomington I have also discovered the martial arts program at the School of Health Physical Education and Recreation. The school of HPER offers the best martial arts program of any university in the country. Their elective martial arts classes include everything from the Philippino stick fighting art of Arnis to the Korean art of taekwondo. I have been taking hapkido since my first semester and have found that as a martial art it is especially unique and balanced. Hapkido addresses the importance of actual self-defense and teaches a wide range of different aspects from martial arts such as ground fighting, joint locks, kicks, throws and weapon defense. I have found that practicing a martial art form fits quite naturally with studying at Indiana University. The combination of physical and mental activities allows me to learn new material and apply it on different levels; I find that this combination makes the university experience much more valuable. Practicing a martial art develops one’s skill and perseverance, and in a certain sense I find that martial arts are aligned with the study of religion, specifically those of the East. It is no surprise that this would be the case since the martial arts in a traditional Eastern country were either a religious practice themselves, or were connected to one. I think that the same concentration and peace of mind is essential for the practice of a martial art as for the practice of a religion. On different levels each builds strength and concentration as well as an ability to face situations and challenges in different ways.

My interest in the religious studies department at Indiana University began with a strong interest in other cultures and a desire to understand them. The opportunities at Indiana University and specifically in the Religious Studies department provide a means of comprehending the world in new and unique ways. By teaching people about the religions of other countries the religious studies courses allow for a glimpse of other cultures, lifestyles, and people. As the world becomes smaller through increased proximity and awareness between diverse countries, the ability to further understand the religions of other countries becomes all the more essential. By understanding the religions of other people, which are often the closest to the heart of their culture and simultaneously the most misunderstood by others, we allow ourselves to destroy prejudices and assumptions that prevent us from appreciating the beauty and wisdom around the world.