A 2010 PEW study reports that 2.18 billion people throughout the world subscribe to the Christian faith. Here at DU that translates to a considerable, though not always tangible, Christian presence on campus. As far as other religions, there are several represented, but more minimally in comparison. DU dedicates substantial consideration and resources to supporting all faiths on campus; this can be seen through the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. Though religion can be a divisive topic, promoting religious conviction that emphasizes compassion could cultivate increased harmony, activism and accountability within our DU community.

Here on campus we have around 17 recognized religiously affiliated student groups, 14 of which are Christian based. Currently we have a regular Catholic mass and non-denominational service each Sunday physically performed on campus grounds. Beyond this there are groups such as Young Life, CRU and the Campus Ambassadors Christian Community, which strive to provide opportunities for students to engage with the Christian faith through Bible studies, campus events, service trips and more.

The most recently established campus assembly of faith was Mosaic Church, who now offers a 10:30 Sunday morning service in Davis Auditorium. This group celebrated their first service with a congregation of a couple hundred attendees. This developing church was founded by Pastor Matt and is being mentored through Denver United’s Senior Pastor Rob Brendle. Denver United is one of many local churches also patronized by DU students. The vision for Mosaic coming to campus is to “do whatever it takes to reach seekers and inspire believers towards a growing relationship with Jesus.”

Christian students on campus seem to be receiving this new place of worship positively. Roy-Michael Harris, who attended Mosaic’s first service and is a practicing inter-denominational Christian, said “It was nice to see familiar faces because you rarely get a chance to meet other Christians on campus; it was refreshing.” This recognizes the benefits of having on-campus opportunities for religious expression. By doing so it also acknowledges that though there are practicing Christians on campus, it is not always something people openly identify with and therefore some students of faith appear to face challenges in finding one another. Another DU student who distinguishes herself as a Christian, Tara Collins, said, “At college it is a lot harder to stay truly faithful, going to church every Sunday, having a church on campus will help that.” From speaking with other students as well, it is apparent that maintaining the degree of faith some students were raised with while attending university can be a struggle.

Though DU is not promoting religious adherence in general or any specific religious beliefs, nor should it, is it fostering a community where those who wish to sustain their faith can indeed do so on campus? Through investigation into a broader student perception, it seems there are mixed opinions. Two DU students, Ben Brentin and Adrienne Leonard, express their observations about Christian culture on campus. “I don’t have anything against it,” said Adrienne. “But I don’t see its presence.” Ben, somewhat on the other hand, said “It’s very present in certain groups, such as CREW, but it is a select few who are active in their faith on campus.”

So it seems that if you seek it out, you shall find a support network for your Christian faith here at DU. Those interested in Judaism, Muslim religion or Mormonism may also find an organization or two to participate in, such as Hillel, Muslim Student Association (MSA) or Latter-day Saint Student Association (LDSSA). As spoken by Charlie Lawton and quoted by Matthew McConnaughey in his recent Oscar acceptance speech, “When you got God, you got a friend, and that friend is you.” It is not within our university’s rights to limit this friendship or anyone’s relationship with Jesus, God or whomever they worship. However, as an atheist, I take comfort in knowing those who practice a faith can be supported here on campus while I am also respected for my beliefs.

In regards to religion, individuals must be considerate, our institution must be cautious and religions must be compassionate. The Dalai Lama says that all teaching, all faiths emphasize love, compassion and tolerance. These tenets should be considered primary forces within our campus’ religious community in order to uphold our commitment to inclusivity. The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life states that their mission is to, “Promote meaningful encounters, engagement and understanding across lines of religious and disciplinary commitments.” With this sense of inter-faith deference and a foundation in compassion, DU can facilitate a flourishing community of both believers and non-believers.