Religious diversity at CSULB

Throughout history, religion has caused many battles. People always arguing and sometimes fighting to prove their religion is the one people should follow.

Struggles for religious supremacy have happened in countries all over the world, but at Cal State Long Beach, it is not war religious groups wish to create, but an atmosphere in which students are free to learn about any religion they desire.

CSULB has eight religious groups that are affiliated with the Interfaith Center on campus. Each has its unique history and wishes to teach its own philosophy. Despite the differences among them, and the fight to get students to be a part of their faction , the groups do not pressure them into joining.

One CSULB group is the Baha'i World Faith. The Baha'i is a relatively new religion that originated in 1844 and has become the second-most popular world wide religion.

To be a Baha'i, one must accept the prophets of all religions. A person considering the religion must do an independent investigation and the decision to join must be made solely by that person.

The faith has been in the United States for 90 years. There are parts of the United States where many people are members of the faith. But, overall it's not growing in the America because there really isn't enough information about it.

"People are surprised that there is a Baha'i faith," said Lynette Slaman-Garcia, the Baha'i representative on campus. "People are intrigued, and overall receptive to what the faith teaches."

Slaman-Garcia grew up a Catholic in Wisconsin. After attending the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Platteville, she went to El Camino College before coming to CSULB.

She was introduced to the faith by a friend, did her own personal investigation and became a member of the faith. As a representative of the religion, Slaman-Garcia is at CSULB to answer questions and teach people about the faith and supports students in need.

"I'm a resource center," Slaman-Garcia said. "I help people searching for answers."

Another group on campus is the Metropolitan Community Church of Long Beach. It had its beginnings in Long Beach in 1968. This group differs from most religions because it tries to reach gays and lesbians - only 40 percent of the congregation is heterosex ual.

The group is made up of a lot of different ethnicities. There are Philipinos, Hispanics, African-Americans, Native Americans and Caucasians. One thing there is not much of at the church is students. And if they are there, the students aren't from CSULB. They are from Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Dominguez.

The MCC works with students at the Gay, Lesbians and Bisexual Union. It gives bible studies, seminars, workshops and sponsors retreats. The MCC also speaks in classes or homes. The subjects spoken are widely varied. They speak on sexual abuse, drugs, alc ohol and destructive behavior.

"We want our church to be a home," said Gale Smith, the MCC campus minister on campus. "We want people to learn to love themselves and improve their self-esteem. We're a support group."

Smith is a disabled Air Force Vietnam Veteran. She graduated from CSULB with a degree in biology, got her master's in Christian history and is working on her doctorate at Claremont College. Before coming to CSULB, Smith worked at the L.A. County Sewage T reatment Center as a section supervisor. She has been here for two and a half years.

"I like to keep in touch with students who have graduated," Smith said. "They feel surpised and flattered that I still call them. They are glad I still care." The people that join the MCC are those who feel oppressed by their regular churches and those dealing with many problems within their lives. Smith's door is always open to students, but she doesn't feel the need to push them into something that isn't ri ght for them.

"I don't see a need to that. They will come if they need help," Smith said. "It feels so rewarding to help people get over difficult situations. I look forward to reaching out to people when they are in need. We want to help people worship God without be ing labeled."

The only negative vibes Smith gets are from those groups that brand her as a radical for intergrating homosexuals into the religion.

Probably one of the most student-oriented groups on campus is the United Methodist Church. The UMC has been at CSULB since the early Ô60s. They meet twice a week, once on-campus for breakfast, and the other time off-campus at minister Edward Hansen's hom e for dinner and bible study.

"The purpose of our group is for people to meet and get more biblical, and see how it relates to their lives," Hansen said. "The students meet quality friends, get answers to religious questions, an opportunity to grow spiritually and a chance for fun an d free food."

Hansen is a graduate of San Diego State, has a master's in counselor's education and a doctor of philosophy from the religious school of theology at Claremont. He has only been at CSULB since July 1995 and is strictly the campus minister. He previously w orked for 13 years as an administrator at Claremont and works as a pastor to some local churches. Hansen came to CSULB because he likes working with students, the academic university setting and the free interchange of ideas.

"We tend to be a fairly open-minded progressive group," Hansen said. "It is a diversity of thinking. We don't tell people what to do or think. We want students to ask questions and think for themselves."

The group appeals to those students who feel they don't belong. They help them by building friendships and affirming that they are a part of the something. UMC does that by taking them to the movies, going on a trip to the mountains and going on weekend retreats.

Because the group has much turnover, Hansen says there are four ways he keeps the group going. First he reaches students through the SOAR (new student orientation) program), sometimes students fill out the card about wanting to know about a specific reli gious group on campus. Second, he uses word of mouth through students currently in the group. Third, he makes contacts through the United Methodist churches in Long Beach. They sometimes let students know of the group on campus. And finally, he contacts s tudents through the brochures around campus.

The make up of the group is mainly students, even two or three from other colleges. The group is mostly Caucasian and Asian but open to everyone. "The reason I am here is because of the feeling that I can make a difference," Hansen said. " That I can contribute a perspective that is life-giving. To affirm and welcome people that may have felt alienated in the past."

One group that has been around since the establishment of CSULB is Cooperative Protestant Campus Ministry, formerly known as Kairos. CPCM represents five denominations on campus. It meets four times a week doing anything from bible study to going to the movies to having free food.

"We provide a service to students who are searching to try and fit in," said Adele K. Langworthy, the campus minister. "It's a safe place to explore differing views. We provide a service for people to grow spiritually."

They discuss such topics as world hunger, AIDS, local elections and what's happening in Bosnia. The group is also there to help those students struggling with what they are learning in class, it might conflict with what they believe religiously.

"It's an opportunity for people to have discussions and talk to people," Langworthy said. "They come because some of their needs are met. And I'm a familiar face. I remember what they tell me."