University Chaplain Father David O'Leary spoke last night to a group of about 20 students in Metcalf Hall's common room.
The theme of the informal discussion was "Religion and Informed Consciousness," and it focused on individual conclusions in relation to monotheistic religious dogma.
O'Leary said that in order to obtain an informed conscience - that is, reaching a personal conclusion regarding religious faith - a person needs to look at four central aspects of a religion: sacred texts, religious tradition, how a community enacts those traditions, and where the religion's authority lays.
Throughout the discussion, which was peppered with questions from the audience, O'Leary said that the first step toward informed consciousness was "doing your homework," or gathering the facts about a religion of interest.
Insinuating that religion was an intensely personal decision, O'Leary said that "we're all going to read and interpret differently."
He said that even within individual religions, "there is a whole range of interpretations present," as he gave gay marriage and Christianity as an example.
O'Leary said individuals should choose a religion based on whatever works for the individual.
"We're not meant to be islands ... we all need help at some point," O'Leary said. "Just respect whatever faith tradition works for you."
O'Leary said that people who focused on only one of the four aspects needed for informed consciousness would not be taking every angle into account.
For example, he said that while sacred texts have remained largely unchanged since their introductions into religious communities, society's collective impressions of what constitutes a human being has, on the contrary, evolved over time.
"Sacred texts don't have the same vision of a person that we have today," O'Leary said. He cited progress by the Enlightenment and subsequent developement by more modern aspects such as anthropology and Freudian psychology as instances where human understanding has progressed.
As a result, O'Leary said, religions have adapted in their traditions and acceptance.
"The Roman Catholic church has only recently changed its views on suicide," O'Leary said.
Originally, Catholic tradition refused to bury those who committed suicide in Catholic burial plots, as suicide was considered an affront to God.
With the development of modern psychology, however, O'Leary said "the Church opened up a bit to reason and science," and began looking at the individual person and their circumstances.
Suicide victims are now entitled to burials in Catholic plots.
"Christianity is just beginning to get comfortable with Enlightenment ideals," O'Leary said. "Judaism is way ahead, because it's the oldest religion."
He said that people seeking informed consciousness must not be afraid to disagree with church leaders or the majority.
"Sometimes you'll disagree with the majority or the leaders," he said. "I'd say that's okay."
O'Leary said, however, that no one in either the majority or minority position had the right to attack an individual who shared a different perspective or opinion.
"We can disagree with a person, but we should never attack them," he said.
To that end, O'Leary said that all religious services at Tufts were open for attendance to all those who wish.
"I want to be told if you're being excluded or pressured by any particular group," O'Leary said.
Ultimately, O'Leary argued that there was no single, authoritative answer to questions regarding religion.
"'Believe or die' isn't a great selling point for any religion, and has never worked for any one that tried it," O'Leary said. "I'm all for whatever works for the individual."
