Students who have specific religious or faith practices or no religion at all may experience unique opportunities and challenges while studying abroad/away. In many parts of the world, religion and faith play a large role in the local culture, customs, and norms. This offers students a unique opportunity to practice, explore, and experience their traditions in another context – or juxtaposed with and/or alongside other religious or faith traditions.
Do your research! How is religious or faith tradition practiced in your host community? What does the religious or faith community look like in your host community? How visible are they? What is the dominant practice in the host community? How does the dominant practice relate to your traditions and/or observations?
Can you attend services, holidays, events, etc.? Are their organizations you can join? What are the cultural appropriate ways you can participate in religion and faith practices, holidays, traditions, etc. that are not yours in the host community?
The Smith Center strongly encourages you to speak with us, College Ministry, or with the on-site faculty or program directors about what your needs may be while off campus. How can you support the religious or faith needs, traditions, etc. of peers, your host family, etc.? Is your host community tolerant or accepting of other religions or faiths – how about of a-religious, atheist, and agnostic identified individuals?
Is is safe and/or legal for you to practice, wear religious symbols/clothing, etc.?
Will your host community observe times of fasting while you are on your program? If so, how will you participate or not? If you do not plan to participate, consider how you may access food during the fasting period (if shops and restaurants are closed).
How might you react if your host community or program challenges your beliefs or practices?
- How can I respect the religious holidays and customs in that country?
- What religious holidays occur during my stay? What will they entail? Am I comfortable with that?
- Will religious beliefs within that country influence how people interact with me because of my non-religious identity?
- How will I feel, if I participate in excursions to sites of worship?
- Are there laws regarding some religious practices?
- Is there separation of religion and government?
Helpful Links
Diversity Abroad – Reflections on Studying Abroad as a Muslim Woman
Diversity Abroad – Being Muslim in Spain
IES Blog – Keeping the Faith: religious Difference and Experience Abroad
Harvard University – The Pluralism Project
The U.S. State Department – International Religious Freedom
PBS – World Religions Map of Prevailing Beliefs
Diversity Abroad – Religious Diversity Abroad
U.S. Department of State – 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom
BBC – The Islamic Veil Across Europe