Different religions, same message

An interfaith service was held Wednesday at California Lutheran University to mark International Education Week at the private university in Thousand Oaks.

Some of the overseas students enrolled at CLU took part in the service at Samuelson Chapel, which featured Hindu, Muslim and Sikh prayers as well as words from the Book of Common Prayer in England and the Reform Synagogues.

During the service, 23-year-old Ahmed Jaffar of Saudi Arabia sang some verses from the Quran in Arabic.

"You have to make your voice very beautiful, as beautiful as you can, because you are talking to God," he explained before reciting the verses.

Jaffar, studying English as a second language, said later that it was a great pleasure to share his faith in the Lutheran chapel.

"I enjoyed it," he said. "We have to show people around the world that there is a peace. If there are differences in religion and different thinking, we are still all together as human beings and live on one planet and you have to live together even if you have different opinions."

Aminah Hassoun, a junior from Santa Barbara who's studying religion and political science, said the service was an amazing experience.

"It was really exciting to hear all the different prayers and that essentially we're sending the same message across all the different religions," said Hassoun, 20, whose parents are from Palestine and Syria.

"I think a lot of students here who are international students have a lot to offer in terms of inter-religious and intercultural understanding, and a service like this brings those students to the forefront," she said.

There are 385 international students from 56 countries attending CLU this year, and about 150 CLU students participate in Study Abroad programs in which they travel overseas and experience living in another country.

International Education Week kicked off Monday at CLU with international students carrying their national flags from Samuelson Chapel to All Nations Plaza on campus.

Students also held a World Fair on Wednesday, showcasing the traditions, foods and cultures of other countries. And today, the public is invited to hear presentations by international students on their cultures from 3 to 5 p.m. in the University's Lundring Events Center on Olsen Road.

"We have so many international students and they are such a presence on campus," said Amelia Wayne, 21, a religion major from Acton.

"CLU does a good job of encouraging every tradition, and so there's a heavy focus on international and interfaith cooperation and it seems to be a big part of what Cal Lutheran is about," she said.

--- Published in the Ventura County Star on Nov. 18, 2010