Link to the Religious Institutions local to St. Leo for the VRI Assignment
(see attached document for the list)
Key points for writing a successful VRI Paper for Dr. H
- Interview someone who is not the same religion as you
- Write a paper that is at least 750 words long.
- Focus your paper on following this outline:
- Title the paper with Option A or B and the name of person and their religion or religious institution.
- Paragraph 1: Introduce the person you interviewed and the religion.
- Include the person’s name, their position (if they have one) and a bit about their demographic background.
- Be sure to mention the religion you are covering. Include how long this person has practiced this religion and how they got involved in it
- Paragraph 2: Meaning of religion to this person
- Share some of the information you found out about what it means to this person to be a member of their religion. You can talk about their practices and beliefs here.
- Paragraph 3-4ish: Importance of religion
- Share some information about why it is important to this person to be a member of this religion
- Share their answer to the question about what they wish others knew about their religion
- Paragraph 5: Conclusion
- Offer some brief comments that talk about what you learned that was new
- You can also compare what you learned to your own religion, if you practice one.
The VRI (visit to a religious institution) requirements for the course now has a few options. The main aim of the VRI paper is for you to report on your engagement with a religious institution (Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, or Hindu) and dialogue with an insider and show how this has impacted your thinking. Here are two options for how you can engage an insider view:
A. In-person dialogue: Safely visit with a member of another religious institution outdoors and stay six feet apart while wearing a mask. You are to ask them very broad questions such as “Share with you what it means to them to be a Hindu, or Christian, or Muslim. What is most important to being Hindu or Christian or Muslim in your view? What do they wish others new about their religion?” Make sure to take notes. Preference should be given to local religious institutions in your area but it is not required that it be local. If you can’t find a local institution feel free to use the REL 223 religious institution list and make contact with them as well as set a date for your appointment. All institutions on this list have already been contacted by representatives of the Saint Leo University Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies’ Interreligious Study and Dialogue project so they should be aware that Saint Leo students might be calling them. NOTE: If you have difficulty for some reason you may interview a friend who is a member of one of the religions studied in class. The religion you engage must not be at all affiliated with a religious tradition that you are personally are already religiously affiliated with. If you are a Christian do not engage another Christian denomination. You must engage another religion entirely. Focus on what their religion means to them. Then talk about whether their view of their religion helped you to see any gaps in your understanding of that religion, and whether this impacts your understanding of your own tradition.
B. Dialogue by phone or video conference: Instead of dialoguing with them in person, please set up a dialogue with them by phone or video conference. You are to ask them very broad questions such as “Share with you what it means to them to be a Hindu, or Christian, or Muslim. What is most important to being Hindu or Christian or Muslim in your view? What do they wish others new about their religion?” Make sure to take notes. Preference should be given to local religious institutions in your area but it is not required that it be local. If you can’t find a local institution feel free to use the REL 223 religious institution list and make contact with them as well as set a date for your appointment. All institutions on this list have already been contacted by representatives of the Saint Leo University Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies’ Interreligious Study and Dialogue project so they should be aware that Saint Leo students might be calling them. NOTE: If you have difficulty for some reason you may interview a friend who is a member of one of the religions studied in class. The religion you engage must not be at all affiliated with a religious tradition that you are personally are already religiously affiliated with. If you are a Christian do not engage another Christian denomination. You must engage another religion entirely. Focus on what their religion means to them. Then talk about whether their view of their religion helped you to see any gaps in your understanding of that religion, and whether this impacts your understanding of your own tradition.
