From A Neighborhood in Transition
For some of us, as we rush about through our daily lives, it often seems as though our religious beliefs become a shadow of our existence. Others center their lives around religion and some reject it altogether. No matter what role religion plays in our own lives, people tend to understand the enormous impact religion has on society when they step outside and see countless religious institutions and groups. Religion has increasingly evolved into a medium for culture and tradition. In a foreign atmosphere you may not find people of your own background or country origins, but you may find someone who shares your religion. In our study of religion in Morningside Heights, we observe how this little community steadfastly holds onto religion and ties it to education.
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Christian Institutions
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Avenue) is the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. It is immense, covering more than half a city block and includes a dome 162 feet high. Tourists visit daily to see its unique design. The church has a cathedral school open to children of all faiths that teaches kindergarten to eight grade. Cathedral Website Mariah Carey Performing at St. John the Divine
Riverside Church (490 Riverside Drive) is an interdenominational church associated with the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches. The church is a Gothic cathedral that was built in 1927. It can seat over 2,000 people and has a 20-floor tower that contains meeting rooms. More a place of worship, Riverside has an active theater that hosts up to 120 performances annually.
Church Website
The Union Theological Seminary (3041 Broadway) was opened in 1936 to teach based on Protestant Reformed tradition. Its purpose is to educate students for ministry in churches and related organizations.
School Website
St. Hilda's House Convent of the Community of the Holy Spirit (621 W. 113th St) is connected to The Melrose Convent in Brewster, NY. The two convents complement spiritual development with environmental education in an effort to understand, appreciate and celebrate the Earth.
Community Website
Corpus Christi Church (529 W. 121st Street) is a Catholic Church founded in 1936. It has a professional choir, which sings church music from all periods including Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, Baroque and early Classical choral music.
Church Website
The Grotto Church of Notre Dame (405 West 114th Street) is a Catholic church, which started as a chapel in 1910 by a French community of priests called the Fathers of Mercy. The grotto at the front of the church is a replica of the grotto where Holy Mary is believed to have been seen by St. Bernadette at Lourdes. Church Website
The Interchurch Center (475 Riverside Drive) is a 19- story building run by several Christian organizations such as the National Council of Churches and the USA Church World Service. It strives to promote tolerance and involvement among different denominations.
Center Website
Other Christian Insitutions include Broadway Presbyterian Church (601 W. 114th Street), James Chapel (at Union Theological Seminary), Korean Church & Institute (633 W. 115th St.), Jehovah's Witnesses (235 W. 113th St.), and St. John's Chapel (Columbia University campus)
Jewish Institutions
Congregation Ramath Orah (550 W. 110th St.) is a Jewish Orthodox Synagogue founded in 1941 by Jews of Luxembourg who had survived Nazi occupation. Jews of all denominations are welcome here. The synagogue has various programs to help the needy including visiting the elderly and the sick and providing meals to the hungry. Synagogue Website
The Old Broadway Synagogue (15 Old Broadway) is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue built in 1923. It holds weekly religious classes and organizes community projects such as cemetery and park cleanups.
Synagogue Website
Jewish Theological Seminary of America (3080 Broadway) was founded in 1886 to preserve the knowledge of practice of Conservative Judaism. It contains five schools and is the leading center for the study of Judaica outside of Israel.
School Website
Buddhist Institutions
The New York Buddist Church (331-332 Riverside Drive) was founded in 1938 as the first center for Jodoshinshu Buddhists in the city. In addition to holding meditation and dharma services, the church also holds calligraphy, drumming, Japanese dance, and martial arts classes. Church Website Dance Performance at the Church
A Video About Religion
Religious institutions in Morningside Heights serve as homes for worship, community activities, festivals, concerts and performances. They are sites to spark friendships, as well as centers for education. Here is a video depicting religious institutions in Morningside Heights.
Religious Groups in Morningside Heights
Judaism
Judaism is a religion that holds the origins of its beliefs and practices from the Tanakh. This religion is considered one of the first monotheistic religions in the history of mankind. Many aspects of Judaism are in tandem with the secular western concepts of ethics and civil law.
Undoubtedly, Judaism is one of the primary religions shared by Morningside Heights residents. The fact that Columbia University’s Hillel group consists of 2000 members is a good representation of the neighborhood itself.
Islam
Islam is a monotheistic religion based on the Quran and the teachings of their Prophet Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. Islamic religious practices encompass of every aspect of life from dietary laws, banking, to warfare and welfare.
Islam has almost 2 billion adherents, making it the second-largest religion in the world. But, in Morningside Heights, it ranks the third largest group. The Muslim Student Association at Columbia has 700 members and the University allots them $19500 in order to coordinate their activities. Surprisingly though, there is no visual representation or institution for Muslims in the neighborhood. The students perform their daily prayers in the Auditorium once a week.
Hinduism
Hindu beliefs encompass concepts of God or gods from pantheism, monotheism, polytheism and even atheism. The religious ideologies center around the concept of Karma and Dharma. Their religion makes reference to the teachings of scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads, Tantras, Agama and the Bhagavad Gita.
At Morningside Heights, the Hindu’s are represented by means of Columbia University’s Bhakti Club. The club is upbeat and interactive with its 170 members.
Buddhism
Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as “The Buddha” or the Awakened One. The belief and its practices originated in present day Nepal and spread throughout the Northeastern Region of the Indian subcontinent. The religious ideologies revolve around understanding the phenomena of suffering and rebirth and eventually break the cycle by achieving the ultimate state, Nirvana. Thus, they practice ethical conduct, selflessness, devotion, meditation, physical exercises, studying and gaining knowledge.
The Buddhist group at Columbia University claims a low 60 members. Sadly, the small numbers justify the lack of unity in their group. The group offers services like meditation and yoga, but the participation levels are low if not insignificant. Buddhists at Morningside Heights tend to congregate in temples situated in different neighborhoods.
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is the religion that follows the teachings of a 16th century German reformer, Martin Luther. Luther’s ideologies center around reform of the theology and practice of the church. His revolutionary activities and writing launched the international spread of Protestant Reformation. The initial distinction between Lutherans and the Roman Church came about over the issue of “Justification over God”. From there, Lutheran theology branched out with its unique theology of Christianity, the purpose of God’s Law, divine grace, issue of “whether one saved is always saved” and predestination.
Though there are over eleven million Lutherans all over the country, Columbia University only has eleven students who identify themselves as Lutheran. The group has their own group activities set up, but there is minimal participation overall. The nationwide trend indicates a decreasing number of Lutherans who express their religious commitment.
References
http://www.bwog.net/publicate/index.php?page=post&article_id=7114
http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/7331
http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/7310
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/lutheranism.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org
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