Religious faiths cope with attacks in different ways

The morning of Sept. 11, students across campus huddled around televisions, computers and radios, stunned. There was a solidarity that is rarely felt on a college campus. And in the days, weeks and months that followed, community members have had to deal with their emotions in their own ways. Religious faith has been a common source of comfort.\nIn the Bloomington community, where faith manifests itself in a wide variety of religious traditions, there are endless ways to comprehend the tragedy our nation has experienced. But how faith is compromised in light of the events since Sept. 11 is a common thread in the web of religious tradition.\n"I'm not sure people's faith was affected. I think it became more relevant to them. I think it can comfort them," said Rabbi Mira Wasserman of the Beth Shalom congregation. \nAs in many religious traditions, a prayer service united the people of Rabbi Wasserman's Jewish congregation the night of Sept. 11. She said the tragedy was a source of discussion for the next month. \nFreshman Amy Novikoff attends services at the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, and has a similar view to Rabbi Wasserman's.\n"I don't feel like my faith changed," she said. "I immediately thought of my faith when it happened. I went to a service at Hillel. There was a good discussion afterward. Through Hillel, we were able to be comforted."\nChristian traditions use similar methods of coping, including discussions and prayer services. The Rev. Dan Atkins, a priest at the St. Paul Catholic Center, said the way a person reacts to tragedy depends on their level of faith beforehand.\n"Whenever we find ourselves in a situation like this, if we are trying to grow spiritually, it will present a real challenge for us," he said. "On the other hand, if you have already decided you don't believe, then this becomes a confirmation for you."\nFor Atkins, as for many others in all religious traditions, Sept. 11 was an eye-opening experience.\n"It was a real wake-up call," Atkins said. "It finally brought home to me the fear, grief and confusion of terrorism. I had to try not to let myself become desensitized."\nOne faith had unique challenges after Sept. 11. Senior Nuha Elkhiamy regularly attends services at the Islamic Center. She said there was a noticeable rise in attendance in the weeks after the attacks, but not all those who came were Muslim.\n"There were a lot of people of all faiths who came to Friday prayers," Elkhiamy said. "I think it was an effort to support those who were Muslim and were being treated badly. An escort service was even set up for Muslims, and over 200 students from all over the community offered to help."\nShe admits that in the days after Sept. 11, she was afraid to leave the house. But Elkhiamy said her Muslim faith helped her to cope. \n"I know what Islam means to me, and in Islam, we know that there are times of struggle," she said. "I grieved just like any other American did. But I believe that with every burden there is hope."\nAdults may have coping mechanisms in place, but children might not cope in the same way, said Debbie McCray, the minister of Christian Education and Youth at First Baptist Church. She dealt with children and their emotions after Sept. 11.\n"They seemed to have a pretty good grasp with it," she said. "Especially since they weren't personally affected, they could go on with their lives. I think people were looking for ways to be comforted in ways they might not have experienced since childhood."\nNot everyone finds appealing to a higher power the best way for them to cope. \nThe Buddhist faith, for example, believes that personal wisdom and understanding are the keys to inner peace.\nJam Yang is a monk at the Dagom Gaden Tensung-Ling monastery. He said meditative techniques such as healing circles were used in the days and weeks following the attacks.\n"We sit in circles and talk about the anger and frustration that people are feeling," he said. "We use mind transformations to reduce hatreds. To the Buddhist philosophy, one can understand their anger."\nThere are also those who do not use any type of traditional methods, perhaps because they do not believe in a higher power at all. Senior Carrie Cline is a self-proclaimed atheist.\n"Especially in light of Sept. 11, I can neither blame nor appreciate a god, but I can blame and appreciate people," she said. "People caused those awful events, and people have been cleaning up after them. While most people can't find comfort after tragedy without a god, I can't find comfort after tragedy in a world with one. I can't understand finding solace in a creator who allows for events such as those which happened on Sept. 11"