God in the Box sparks interfaith dialogue

God in the Box at IU, an organization that seeks to promote interfaith relations, had a box set up Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.  at the Sample Gates to give people a chance to go inside and share their thoughts about God.

The group is based on the movie “God in the Box,” directed by Nathan Lang. The box will also be at the gates at the same times today and Tuesday.

“It opens discussion and brings people from all different backgrounds,” said sophomore and President of God in the Box at IU David Bloom.

Between 1 and 3 p.m., the group had nine people enter the box. At one point, eight people stopped by to hear what the project was about.

Bloomington resident and lay supporter of the Bahá’í Association at IU Dan Enslow stopped by to step in the box and share his thoughts. He said he backs interfaith efforts in Bloomington.

“I think it’s a really unique opportunity,” he said. “It is said the cornerstone of world peace is the unity and harmony of religions. We’re all different flowers of a beautiful spring garden. If the flowers can live together, why can’t we?”

Bloomington resident Julie Elkes let her 8-year-old daughter Richelle enter the box.

“I think it’s interesting to hear different viewpoints,” Julie said.

The box was all white, soundproof and had a see-though ceiling. Inside was a mirror, camera, a chair with a pillow, white sheets of paper and crayons. Students involved with IU Hillel helped make the box.

“He did a phenomenal job,” Bloom said. “It’s really incredible.”

Bloom said the box provides a way for people to share their thoughts without being swayed by others.

God in the Box at IU is comprised of many different organizations, including IU Hillel, the Secular Alliance at IU and the IU Student Association.

Rodelyn Lipumano works with the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship on campus and became involved with God in the Box as a public relations person. 

“I think it’s a beautiful concept,” she said. “It fosters a kind of community we are seeking here at IU.”

Sophomore Anthony Trainor works with the CommUNITY Education Program at IU, which has helped with the project.

“Lang has a powerful message,” he said. “I’ve been really happy with the process. I’m really looking forward to see how this will make an impact on campus.”

People who chose to enter the box could choose to be filmed or not.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, Lang’s film, along with IU’s version of “God in the Box,” which splices together the footage shot in the box at the gates, will be shown. An interfaith discussion will follow along with a Q-and-A session with Lang. Bloom said Lang has been showing his movie at film festivals and religious institutions across the country.

Bloom said he decided to take this initiative after seeing the film at a Jewish camp last summer.

He got in touch with Rabbi Sue Silberberg at Hillel to start the project.

After seeing the film for the first time, Silberberg said she thought it exemplified that we are all dependent on each other.

“This is exactly what we need on our campus,” she said. “Everybody has been so supportive. It’s been a great opportunity for everybody to come together. I just hope a lot of people come out to the movie Wednesday. We need to celebrate diversity.”

Bloom said there needs to be a group at IU that solely focuses on interfaith relations.
 
In the future, he said he hopes to launch Better Together at IU, a group that will bring together people of different religious backgrounds. He said it is important for interfaith groups to do more than just discuss and to do something together to make a difference, such as sending medical equipment to Africa.

“Not only are we talking together, we are better together,” Bloom said.

Bloom mentioned that faith-based incidents are increasing at IU.

“They don’t belong here,” he said. “They don’t belong anywhere.”