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| History &
Culture |
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"Not only did I learn a tremendous amount on the CRC,
about religion, culture, people, places, myself... but I am
still,everyday, learning from those experiences. Three years
later, I still have "OH" moments and glean a new
insight from an event I didn't even realize I remembered.
I really can't imagine what my two years of graduate school
at Harvard would be like if I did not have the CRC to draw
upon."
-- Bjorn Sorenson CRC Alum
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| India |
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| The India term primarily investigates the dominant living religious traditions of India: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Islam. The program includes lectures on and visits to, the Gandhian Peace Foundation, the Taj Mahal, the Tibetan community in Bylakuppe, the Jain center in Sravanabelagola, Sufi and Sikh sites in New Delhi, Buddhist centers at Bodh Gaya and Hindu sites in Varanasi, among others. |
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Field Trips from previous terms have included
- Yoga Retreat, led by the Darsan School of Yoga
A full weekend of yoga instruction and meditation.
- Bylakuppe
Staying at a guest house in the Tibetan refugee settlement of Bylakuppe, students learned about many aspects of the community and Tibetan cultural and political realities via presentations and discussions.
- Hampi
Students explored the ancient ruins of the largest Hindu empire at Hampi, Karnataka. In addition to the ruins, students visited remote active temples such as temples devoted to the goddess Lakshmi, the god Siva, and the epic hero monkey god Hanumaan.
- Kanya Kumari
Spending winter break at the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu, which is a major pilgrimage site, particularly for worshippers of the bachelor god Ayappa. Several students also visited the tropical seaside state of Kerala.
- Svranabelagola
Guided by a Jain scholar, students explored the Jain pilgrimage sites in the town of Svranabelagola in Karnataka. They visited temples dating back 2300 years, met with a Swami, and climbed the many steps to view the Jain statues.
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Thailand
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The stop in Thailand provides students with the opportunity to
study in both the bustling capital of Bangkok and the gateway to
the mountainous north, Chang Mai. Students will learn firsthand
about Buddhism by visiting some of Thailand’s many temples
and ruins. A holiday break will be taken the last ten days
in Thailand and students will have the opportunity to travel around
the country.
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China
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China offers the unique opportunity to experience a LIVING presence
of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism; students visit temples of
all three traditions. Zhejian University in Hangzhou and some
of its faculty are our hosts. The program includes lectures, seminars
and field trips to temples, monasteries and religious sites. Students
also receive an introduction to Mandarin Chinese and the traditional
Chinese arts (such as Tai Chi, herbal medicine, acupuncture and
Chinese astrology).
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Activities and Field Trips from Previous Years
Students stay with a Chinese family and learn more about the
distinctive traits of the family structure in China.
- Jui Long Shan Natural Reservation Area
Students are able to hike along a stream and up a mountain
to take in the beautiful scenery.
- "Japanese Surrender Town"
This center of war and destruction in the late 1930’s
and 1940’s allows students the chance to see the effects
of war.
Students have been the honored guests at this annual event
where hundreds of couples are married under open skies.
- Zhejiang Provincial Museum
7000 years of archeological history, from potter and tools
of numerous dynasties, can be seen at this museum.
In this bustling metropolis students have visited: the Forbidden
City (the historical palace of China’s Emperor’s),
the Temple of Heaven and White Cloud Abbey, sampled Chinese
delicacies at different markets, and met with a Chinese government
strategist.
Students can spend a day walking along this famous Chinese
landmark.
The alleged body of the Communist leader rests here and is
a well visited site for many Chinese, as seen by the number
of flowers that have been offered.
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| The Mediterranean |
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Greece & Italy
The Mediterranean portion of the curriculum begins with a 10 day break in Greece. The remainder of the program is spent in Rome, Italy. Students are reintroduced to the major theological concepts such as deity, Holy Scripture, revelation, and prophethood in the scriptures and traditions of Judaism and the different sects of Islam and Christianity. Discussions will also focus on contemporary issues with religious leaders and communities in the region. Students will also spend this time reflecting upon the past year’s travels while surrounded by the historic grandeur of Rome. It is here that the students will work on their final portfolios under the guidance of the faculty advisor and produce a final piece of work that expressed what each student has experienced and learned throughout the course of the year. |
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