‘Blood moon’ creates stir in Cache Valley, around world
Emi Tano
Writer
Just like our predecessors, modern schools of thought now look
to the moon as an indicator of forthcoming events. Yesterday’s full lunar eclipse or ‘blood moon’ has spurred conversation
in Cache Valley amongst individuals and religious groups regarding the ‘blood
moons’ interpretation.
“Of course some of my friends think I am a little weird for
saying this but I would like to think that God still talks to us through signs
because that is what we are taught in the Bible and in church. God needs a way
to let us know he is there,” said Utah State University senior and longtime
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Jacoby Knight.
According to The Book of Mormon, ancient prophets have long
foretold of “signs and wonders” as an indication of the divinity of God and the
coming of Jesus Christ. But some local ecclesiastical leaders point to LDS
general authorities for modern interpretation of the ancient scriptures, saying
that there is no specific indication that a ‘blood moon’ is a portent of
imminent danger.
“Signs and miracles have always been touted as proof of
God’s greatness through his generous creations, but the brethren have revealed
that they also need to be endorsed by the Lord’s prophet as such,” said stake
president Keith Bingham of Logan.
Endorsement by a prophet is also a tenet supported by Texas
televangelist John Hagee, author of Four
Blood Moons: Something is About to Change. But unlike the LDS Church, Hagee
believes that “‘blood moons’ are closely tied to biblical prophecy,” explaining
that the heavens are “God’s billboard from which he sends messages to earth.”
“In each of these ‘blood moons’ you have something that
begins tragedy and ends in triumph,” Hagee said.
Hagee referenced the 1492 lunar eclipse that coincided with
the expulsion of Jews from Spain and the discovery of America by Christopher
Columbus. But Hagee suggested that something “extra-sinister” lies in the
immediate future, on account of the rare occurrence of tetrad ‘blood moon’s.
According to NASA, tetrads are full lunar eclipses that
occur consecutively four times.
Professor of religious studies at USU and devout Muslim
Abdulkhafi Albirini said that there are no Islamic precepts that affirm the
clairvoyance of astrological phenomenon.
“The sun and the moon are both indicators of Allah or God,
but do not mark the birth or the death of anyone or anything significant.
Eclipses are merely examples of Allah’s power,” Albirini said.
The only significance of astrological signs in Islamic
tradition is the incidence of the prophet Muhammad’s reverence evidenced in
special prayers he offered during a lunar eclipse, according to Dr.Wael Shahib
of Al-Azhar University in Egypt.
NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak explained that while
remarkable, tetrads are not an uncommon event in the 21st century.
“I would describe tetrads as a frequent occurrence in the
pattern of lunar eclipses, but during the 300-year interval between 1600 and
1990, for instance, there were no tetrads,” Espenak said.
Those who don’t associate the lunar eclipse with doomsday
prophecies also made their case by presenting the now invalid 2012 Mayan
Calendar prophecy that incorrectly predicted the world’s end.
“The world didn’t end in 2012, and it won’t end in 2014.
These are just patterns of science that have nothing to do with God and what’s
going to happen,” said Sarah Meade, who describes herself as a spiritualist.
Regardless of any imminent danger or prophecy with religious
implication, the ‘blood moon’ is still a phenomenon to be enjoyed.
“I’m kind of a nerd, so astronomy is really fascinating to
me. I like to think of it has God’s show just for us,” said USU student Felix
Barbosa.
Christian denominations concerned about religious observance
Emi Tano
Writer
As Good Friday approaches, Christians worldwide prepare to pay
homage to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ over two millennia ago, which
according to biblical lore marked the first in a series of events leading up to
his resurrection and ascension.
Amidst a growing trend of agnosticism and relativism that
has doubled in America since 1990, a recent Pew study shows that religious
holidays and observations such as Easter are now practiced less for religious
intent.
“I want my kids to understand, even if they are still young,
that it’s not about the Easter bunny, or the egg hunts or peeps. Easter is the
time to remember Christ and his sacrifice,” said Smithfield native Paul
Schwartz, who also serves Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint bishop.
Pew’s 2012 study found that only half of Americans view
Easter and even Christmas as a religious occasion, while the other half say
they either don’t know why they celebrate it or that they celebrate for
cultural reasons.
Experts are attributing the decrease in religious awareness
to a cultural and generation gap.
Harvard professor Robert Putnam and University of Notre Dame
political science professor Dave Campbell, co-authors of Amazing Grace, called the schism in generations and their
respective levels of piety “aftershocks of a Moral Majority.”
Sociology professor at New York University Michael Hout
explained that the morals and beliefs that were once in place 50 years ago have
given way to a new school of thought.
“There are two aftershocks that have shaped the terrain of
religious affiliation immensely. There was Woodstock and everything that came
before and after – sex, drugs and questioned authority. Now we have the trend
toward embracing gay members of society,” he said.
Ecclesiastical leaders of the LDS church have also noted
increased tolerance and acceptance of these previously taboo and seldom
articulated issues.
“When I was growing up in the church about 40 years ago, it
wasn’t even a question about if it was wrong or not. I find it surprising now
that I have people asking me if their acceptance of gays and other behaviors is
right,” said LDS Bishop Jeff Loosli.
Other leaders have pointed to the importance of instilling
the importance of religious observance.
“The minds of our youth are especially impressionable and
susceptible to following trends regarding why we worship and how we worship. Especially
in regards to the Easter and the importance of Christ,” said LDS youth leader
Kamalani Del Toro.
The Logan Young Single Adult 43rd Ward Relief
Society has taken extra care in preparing the upcoming Easter lesson this
Sunday.
“Jen Day has taken a lot of time to give the girls a whole
week ahead of the lesson to study The
Eight Day Walk With Christ before she teaches this Sunday. It’s supposed to
help them become more aware of what Christ did for them,” said YSA Relief
Society President Lizzy Burns.
Pastor Karen Flessner of USU’s Freedom Christian Fellowship
said she has recently included more Bible study times this week in preparation
for Easter.
“It definitely is something we look forward to every year. It’s
a special time,” Flessner said.
Southeast Asian New Year's celebration a time for reflection and cleansing
Emi Tano
Writer
To those unfamiliar with the New Year’s celebrations of
Southeast Asia, the Water Festival celebrated annually in April might at first
resemble a nation entangled in a mass water fight.
But to Thai, Laotian and Cambodian nationals, their respective
New Year’s Water Festivals are rooted deeply in sacred Buddhist traditions.
“Even though it’s a New Year’s celebration, it’s a time for
family and to reflect on things we need to clean up. That’s why we use water
because it’s a symbol of washing out the bad and starting new, according to
Buddhist culture,” said Thai native Pata Rujirawat, a statistics professor at
Utah State University.
The Thai festival is known as ‘songrkan,’ meaning
‘astroligical passage,’ owing to its origin by astrological calendaring.
In all three countries, the government-declared holiday
lasts anywhere from three to four days while celebrators roam closed off
streets throwing water at each other.
“It can get a little scary sometimes, but it is the best
holiday. People from all over the world come to celebrate in Thailand because
they know it’s fun,” said Pattanagan Thongdang, who currently lives in Bangkok.
“It’s like Christmas, New Year’s and Halloween combined,” she said.
Cambodia’s Chaul Chmai Thmey celebrates similarly to Thailand,
but includes a specific day to give to the poor.
“We call it Virak Wanabat, the second day we give as a
charity because it was great teaching of Buddha to be kind,” said Sophanny
Yinn, who remembers going to Cambodia to celebrate with her parents who moved
from the country nearly 25 years ago.
While water throwing is the most salient of the activities, the
New Year’s Water Festivals are also revered as important time to perform sacred
duties.
“I look forward to it every year because I don’t have to go
to school and I get to go to the temples with my family and offer prayers. It
is very powerful to be there together,” said Alina Bannavong, a USU student of
Latioan descent.
Bannavong’s parents immigrated from Laos to California about
twenty years ago, but recently made Utah their permanent home in 1999.
So far the only New Year’s Water Festival celebrated
publicly in Utah is the event at the West Valley Buddhist Temple in West Valley
City.
This year Bannavong is unable to make the trek down to the
West Valley City, but hopes Logan will someday host a celebration in the
future.
“I just wish we could do something here in Logan for those
who are Buddhist and other people so that they can learn more about the culture
and why it’s so important to us,” Bannavong said.
Interfaith Awareness finds its way to USU
Emi Tano
Writer
Since its creation in February 2011, various international organizations have commemorated the United Nation’s Interfaith Awareness movement with events ranging from prayer groups in Germany to hosted lectures in Egypt.
Utah State University’s Living and Learning Center managed to get the school involved with the worldwide cause by sporting a banner that encouraged students to wear blue today.
“I know it’s a little late but it’s better late than never. Before this year, we didn’t even know it existed. But this is something we all need: Mormons, other Christians and Buddhists all discussing the same issues. We are all fighting for the same causes, and addressing them together is far more productive,” said LLC resident assistant Richard Harvey.
Harvey, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, wanted to incorporate Interfaith Awareness activities as reoccurring USU events ever since his roommate David Tauber returned from an Interfaith Youth Core convention in Los Angeles.
“David and I wanted to bring the Interfaith Awareness brainchild and dialogue to USU because it’s important to have a favorable and spiritual environment to share experiences with one another. It’s not jut about merely tolerating each other, but we want to promote interfaith respect,” Harvey said.
World Interfaith Week began as a result of King Adbullah II’s address to the UN at a plenary session in 2010, proposing the initiation of an Interfaith Harmony Week in an effort “to resist forces of division that spread misunderstanding and mistrust especially among peoples of different religions.”
Because of the increased interest in Interfaith Awareness in the LLC, residence director Timothy Ledna sanctioned building E at the request of Tauber and Harvey as the Interfaith House to “incorporate students of all backgrounds,” Ledna said.
“The Interfaith House’s goal is to help people realize that most people of different congregations and religions agree on the same fundamental things. While we don’t want to sugar coat differences, it’s just more important to see that we all care about service, and about ending problems like hunger and poverty,” Harvey said.
Another LLC resident assistant and Dominican Republic native Alan Polanco said that being Catholic in Logan was difficult at first, but praises efforts to help incorporate minority denominations with the Interfaith House initiative.
“I think generally people like to help, and serving others is a good way to bring people together. It really helped me a lot to be involved here at the LLC,” he said.
Following the Interfaith Awareness announcement at the 2010 UN General Assembly, UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon praised the collaborative efforts in “recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people.”
According to the IFYC website, “colleges area ideal environments to train leaders who will write the next chapter in interfaith cooperation.” A movement that IFYC describes as “part of America’s greatness.”
Harvey wants USU to eventually adopt IFYC’s model of training college students to “create space for people to voice their values, engage with people across lines of religious difference, and act together to make a better world.”
The next step, Harvey said, is to increase the number of people involved.
“At first our meetings were poorly attended, but we soon found luck in pushing our efforts with LDS members and non-LDS members alike. For the IFYC to take off here we need [IFYC] to see our need,” Tauber said.
LLC resident assistant and chief of staff Trace Nilsen said he also noticed an increase in residence attending the interfaith activities.
“For now I am perfectly happy walking around in my blue spandex and telling people in blue how they inadvertently supported the IFYC cause today, because I know it will eventually get us to where we want to a need to be,” Harvey said.
USU Christian group gains momentum
Emi Tano
Writer
When Aggies for Christ first began its venture as an
official Utah State University club in 2012, the Christian group’s attendance
hovered around 10 students.
So far 2014 has proven to an advantageous year for AFC, with
increased attendance to their activities and a doubling in Facebook followers
since its creation two years ago.
“In the last two years we’ve seen more people coming out to
activities, even former members of other congregations looking for a place to
worship with like-minded people,” said AFC student contact Trevor Robinson.
Logan Church of Christ started up Aggies for Christ “to help
students develop friendships with other Christians” in their transition at USU.
“As a newer Christian at Utah State I really
struggled finding a place where I fit in terms of faith. But after year of
researching and going to different congregations I found my place at AFC,” said
USU student Molly Gardiner.
According to AFC leader Susan Bryner,
recent attendees to activities have included former members of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We suspect it’s the relaxed
environment and the focus on membership on the terms written by the students
instead of it being the other way around,” Bryner said.
Some denominations like the LDS church
require baptism as a way of official entry and consideration into the
congregation.
“We’re glad that we can be a place of
refuge and first and foremost a place where all people feel welcome,” Tanya
Pirtle said, a youth leader for Logan Church of Christ.
USU religious clubs disappearing
Emi Tano
Writer
Utah State University‘s
Access and Diversity Center sponsors 13 clubs of religious affiliation but less
than half of these groups still meet regularly as of this year.
In a state with a Latter-day
Saint population of 62 percent, a number of USU students and staff connected to
these clubs cite their minority status as a snag in developing and promoting
their respective groups.
“When I was at the
University of Illinois, the Muslim Student Associate would have meetings every
week, activities and prayer times. Here it is a lot harder because there are
very few students here that participate,” said Syrian native Abdulkafi
Albirini, a USU professor of Religious Studies and devout Muslim.
According to USU’s Clubs and
Organizations website, five clubs mention providing a place for students to
develop connections and belonging in each respective credo.
“We would really love to see
more students breathe life into these clubs, especially the minority religious
groups. It helps give outlying students a sense of purpose and belonging
amongst the LDS majority on campus,” said USU’s Access and Diversity Center
director Michelle Bogdan.
Aggies for Christ, which has
origins in Logan’s Church of Christ, posted on their Facebook page that
“newcomers will transition and make great friends as they become part of a
community.”
Other students indicated
that the turnover rate for religious minority clubs could potentially have a
farther-reaching impact on campus. Logan Islamic Center director and USU
graduate student Ayman Asisi hopes to see more effort in restoring these clubs.
“I wish the Muslim Student Associate
could be revived and get more involved in becoming involved with the decisions
made by our student government that affect Muslim other religious minority students
on campus,” Asisi said.
Zak Ricklefs, who grew up in
Draper, Utah, decided to attend USU to “escape the LDS majority.”
“It’s just kind of hard
because USU isn’t religiously affiliated, but it sometimes feels like it is
which can be stifling. You start to feel like you’re being judged,” said
Ricklefs, who describes himself as Catholic.
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