Like dating, talking about religion with strangers can be awkward. ASUU hopes to put a stop to that stigma.
Organized by advisors Scott Varner and Michael Chen, Speed Faithing created a space for students of any religion to be able to share their beliefs with other students and hear about different religions. The event was laid out like classic speed dating, where two rows of people lined up and each pair took six minutes to talk to each other before switching to the next person. Except this time, instead of people looking for a date, people looked to discuss their religious and spiritual backgrounds.
Varner, who got the idea for the event from reading another university’s paper, said his goal was to break down barriers people create around religion.
“Beliefs are what define us,” he said. “We live in such a diverse place, and that diversity is what makes us strong.”
He said he wanted to get past the taboos of talking about faith. Varner hoped students could walk away with a sense of safety and pride in their beliefs.
Ashlynn McCarter, a sophomore in religious studies, said these conversations are what make genuine relationships.
“I either wanted to feel confident in my religion today or question my religion today,” McCarter said. “Understanding what other people are believing is how you find your own spirituality.”
More than 20 students used the Speed Faithing event to open up to strangers and share their beliefs.
Stephanie Logan, a junior in physics, said she attended the event because “spirituality is how you get straight to the deepest part of a person.” She said she loves to share her faith with others and to hear about other people’s personal journeys.
“Every person is different, and to hear such a personal side of someone is something new,” Logan said.
Near the end of the event, Varner began a group discussion with participants. He said he learned more from the people in attendance than he does from the people in his classes every day. He hopes to host a similar event in the future to expand to more students.
“Usually we explore who we want to be. Today I think we learned about who we are,” Varner said.
Student Services collaborates with the U’s Health and Wellness Center for the #Healthy4Dayz, a campaign promoting student well-being continuing throughout Spring Semester. The theme for this week was spirituality.
“Belief in my faith grew today, but my faith in humanity also grew,” McCarter said.
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