Who will save my Soul?

by Saaleha Bamjee and Bate Felix

Wits students can’t complain if their souls wander off into unexpected dimensions in the life hereafter – what with the more than 20 religious organisations catering for their spiritual life.

It was the free food on offer that first got Shanti Prakash interested in signing up for the Bhakti Yoga society.

But it was during a society meeting, when asked to say a mantra, that he experienced a deep sensation of fulfillment and ecstacy.

After going on a retreat with the society, he witnessed firsthand a different type of lifestyle and this impressed him. Bhakti Yoga’s principles of increasing devotion to God and not harming any living thing, were philosophies that Prakash found most valuable.

One of the greatest attractions of O-week this year was the number of religious and spiritual groups vying for the souls of Witsies, particularly the new students. Finding themselves in this strange environment, they could easily be tempted into things unpleasant to the soul, if not caught early.

The South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) provides a platform for Jewish life on campus, according to Emma Berkowitz, Wits SAUJS chairperson. SAUJS aims to provide for its members’ social and religious needs. This is done by ensuring that Jewish students are exempt from writing tests and exams on holy days and on the Sabbath. Talks and seminars by rabbis are also hosted.

On the social side, braais, parties and other activities are planned throughout the year. On April 20, a night at the Blues Room was organised to showcase Jewish bands. Charity work is also undertaken, the most recent being a collaboration with FeedSA.

The Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) serves as a collective body to which Muslims at Wits can relate. The MSA also believes that a religious society should provide for its members’ social needs. Braais and get-togethers are regularly planned to get members to network and become closer as a group. Often, separate events are organised for male and female students as Islamic law discourages gender intermingling.

The MSA aims to provide its members with opportunities to grow spiritually and to become more aware of current events and how Islam remains relevant even in a modern context. The MSA hosted a religious scholar from Sri Lanka on Wednesday who gave students a report back on the Tsunami disaster.

Plans to build a new Muslim prayer facility on a site near the Planetarium are in the works. According to MSA chairperson, Muhammed Dadabhay, a further R500 000 has to be raised before building can commence. Muslim students currently use the prayer facility or Jamaat Khana on Yale Road as a venue for their daily prayers.

The Student Christian Organisation (SCO) is one of the many Christian organisations on campus. Their members meet every Thursday at the Richard Ward building for a praise and worship session during lunchtime.

These sessions serve to bring them closer to God and maintain that relationship. “To me it’s like a Sunday service. You need to be more round and not only a just Sunday Christian,” said Xolani Shongwe, a 3rd year BA student.

“Trying to live a life as a Christian at Wits can be difficult, especially with distractions from unsaved friends and other things,” said Corey Spengler, 3rd year BA student and SCO member. “So this time is important to us - you get a break from your hectic life and meet fellow Christians on campus.”

The group will be going on a spiritual retreat to Stony Ridge in the Magaliesberg between the April 4 and 6. “This will be an opportunity for the students to get away and build intimacy with God,” said Jessica Krige, 3rd year psychology student and SCO member.

But these societies do not just concern themselves with providing souls with spiritual food.

Visits to homeless shelters in Braamfontein by the SCO, an orphanage in Newtown by the Zion Christian Church Student Fellowship and other charitable activities by the various organisations, expose members to the realities of the society and challenge them lead an exemplary life.