Meet my Rabbi

I met a Jewish Rabbi while in a café’ in Amsterdam who said to me that “the only reason humans believe in a religion, is because they need something to believe in.  They are trying to achieve something from this life that has been set out by a higher power, whether is be God or his denominations.”   Now granted he was ploughing through his 2^nd plate of brownies, I had to take note of what he said.

I proceeded to ask him whether I should then elect a religion to follow- Catholic because the majority of my schooling had occurred there, Buddhist because it’s not really a religion but a way of life or Judaism... well because they have really good food.

He then questioned me, chocolate crumbs bouncing from his beard.  “Do YOU need a religion? Can you survive knowing that what you believe is enough and whether is be for yourself or focus it on some entity that a ‘fuddy duddy’ tells you to?”

I was in a kind of awe that lasted I think about 5 whole minutes of silence.  Well it felt like that I was half way through my own plate of brownies.  I then had to ask the most obvious question… “Why the hell did you become a Rabbi?”

“Only way to get out of Vietnam.  And I found it really helped with picking up.  Girls in the 70’s loved corrupting the righteous boy”

What I took away from this encounter apart from a sugar rush and the everlasting memories of a stoned Rabbi, was a clearer sense of why people choose to love religion so unconditionally.  There’s a sense of belonging and covenant within a church community and it gives its followers something to believe in that stems from history and the prophetic future.

Once upon... a fuddy duddy?

As a person I can honestly say I am a product of a time where people cared how they were perceived and what values they stood for.  However a time where liberation meant not being afraid to speak up and discover who you were... I mean it was the 90's!  Madonna was wearing a cone bra and ABC for Kids had viable plot lines and decent shows.

Rounding up my final years of study here at the institution of the morally insane (Ok slightly melodramatic) I have studied how to be an expressive and sensible person, who does not judge prematurely and accepts a persons character no matter their background.  Though I feel these traits were always present, I guess university really just provides a playing field to practice such qualities on.

When arriving on here at Notre Dame in Fremantle, a much loved stomping ground for almost four years now, I envisioned an establishment that enabled change and acceptance that wouldn't judge so willingly or enact prejudice based on prehistoric faith.  Yeah... I was wrong.

Instead I came to realise that if you chose a Catholic University, it better be because they have an outstanding course structure, because in terms of a value system you're essentially screwed.  Now be sure upon attending your new educational hub that if you choose to question the ethos or constraints, derived by the old 'fuddy duddies' who pour money in to the Colleges annual budget, you will be slated with the obvious question you realised you didn't ask yourself when attending enrolment... "Well you chose to attend a Catholic University, therefore you a subject to follow the same ethos and value system of the uni."... FML.com doesn't have a character limit large enough to explain how F***ED the minority of Notre Dame feel.  And that's what were are a minority, whether it be ethnic groups, sexuality, health awareness, spirituality or a group of students who really just want the chance to express themselves or assist a good cause... you just kind of feel limited.

Now my pets, this is not a 'blog' to well... bitch.  I'm an English Literature student; I discuss, interpret and analyse.  Through this discourse and minimal venting of emotions, I hope to make other Notre Damer's and the wider community aware of the fights fought on their grounds in regards to censorship, the contradictions made by their institution and the student leadership present (or lack thereof).

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