Religion at GW, through the eyes of the devout

Listen to their stories · View related article · View part two · View part three

ListenJulie · Catholicism
ListenHabiba · Islam
ListenAriel · Judaism
ListenRavjot · Sikhism

Julie DeMareo

Year: Senior
Major: International affairs
Hometown: West Deptford, N.J.
Religion: Catholicism

Catholics believe that Christ, the Son of God, founded the Church. Catholicism is an umbrella religion under Christianity, which is the largest religion in the world today, with an estimated 2.1 billion adherents.

Habiba Belguedj

Year: Junior
Major: Psychology and international affairs (conflict and security)
Hometown: Bethesda, Md., and Dzayer, Algeria
Religion: Islam

Islam is based on the teachings of Mohammad, a 7th century Arab religious, political figure and prophet. It is the second-largest religion in the world today, with an estimated 1.4 billion adherents, known as Muslims. Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad and that Muhammad is God's final prophet.

Ariel Scheer

Year: Senior
Major: Judaic Studies
Hometown: Morristown, N.J.
Religion: Judaism

Founded almost 4000 years ago, Judaism is a one of the oldest surviving religions known to people. Judaism is a monotheistic religion, which means that Jewish people pray to only one God. It is the sixth-largest religion in the world today, with an estimated 15 million followers.

Ravjot Bhasin

Year: Freshman
Major: Biology
Hometown: Syosset, N.Y.
Religion: Sikhism

Sikhism was founded during the fifteenth century based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and ten successive Sikh Gurus. Dev taught a strict monotheism, the brotherhood of humanity. It is the fifth-largest religion in the world today, with an estimated 25 million followers.