Religion & Spirituality
The freedom to practice personal religious and spiritual beliefs varies by country, and it is important for you to be aware of what is accepted in your host nation. Additionally, you should research the major religious traditions in your destination to learn what is customary and how you can engage respectfully.
Being part of a religious minority or a majority group in an unfamiliar country can present new opportunities and challenges. It is important to remember that you are a guest in your host culture; this opportunity will allow you not only to acquire insight into your host country through religion, but you may also come to view your own faith in a different way. Study abroad is not a time to impose religious beliefs on others. However, it may challenge your worldviews and enable you to consider difference in a positive and open way. This is neither good nor bad but an evolving process that fosters engagement with your life choices.
Davidson Student Testimonials
France
"I didn’t realize what the road to finding true community abroad would be like. At Davidson, it’s almost effortless. But in another country, with another language, in a secular culture that relegates religion to the most personal sphere possible, it has been hard. But this double-edged blade of a tattoo – which at first seemed like a hassle, a frustration, a relegating factor – has become the door to this community."
Ghana
"I learned from my observations that regardless of religious beliefs, the common theme shared between each religious group is to bring together a community of like-minded individuals. While at the surface, these religious groups seem vastly different from one another due to a belief in a higher power or a certain cosmic order, each of the Abrahamic Religions, as well as many of the Eastern Religions, urge their believers to give back to the community. This is what I found to be the most important finding during my study and one of the guiding principles that shape my understanding of religious diversity to this day."
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