"I don't think I've ever sat down and consciously prayed before," Stern said. "I don't think it's about going to church every Sunday. I think it's just a part of your everyday life."
Stern grew up in a home of mixed religions - she has a Jewish father and a Christian mother - but she said religion was never the focus of her home life. Although she said she plans on going to the seminary, Stern does not necessarily want to lead a congregation. She might want to become an ethical advisor.
"My understanding of religion is a very personal thing," Stern said. "I knew I always wanted to help people in whatever I did, and I realized the best way I could help people was to be a religious leader."
Religious students on campus adhere to a wide variety of beliefs, but many like Murphy agree that being religious at GW is not easy.
"Everyone thinks I'm insane when they find out I want to be a minister," Stern said.
Murphy and his friends have also encountered resistance on campus.
"My freshman year, Knights of Columbus helped out at the GWAids concert and when we did stage crew we heard someone snicker, 'Oh, the God squad is here,'" Murphy said.
Isaacson, Edelman, Elias and Bloomberg all said they have not had trouble dealing with GW students and instead were frustrated that they are not recognized.
"It has been difficult at GW because … we don't get attention," Bloomberg said.
Marcus Rubenstein, president of a new interfaith organization called the Student Alliance for Mutual Ethics, is the first person to hold a multi-religious affairs position in the Student Association. He said the religious groups on campus do not just tolerate each other but embrace one another.
"The GW student population needs to know that we enjoy being together and that we work off each other," Rubenstein said.
Rubenstein, who practices Reform Judaism, a more liberal sect of the faith, plans to become a rabbi, but studies all religions in order to gain the most insight.
"Although I am Jewish, my personal philosophy is that there's wisdom in all traditions and faiths," Rubenstein said. "There is so much genius and knowledge in every single one."
The Student Alliance for Mutual Ethics plans on holding events where the various religious organizations on campus can come together and interact, including a possible fair in Kogan Plaza next year.
SA President-elect Nicole Capp said she is very excited for the new position Rubenstein will be holding in the SA and for the work SAME will be doing this year.
"It really hasn't been done before," Capp said. "It's not always about tolerance. You should be embracing other religions, not just tolerating them."
Stern grew up in a home of mixed religions - she has a Jewish father and a Christian mother - but she said religion was never the focus of her home life. Although she said she plans on going to the seminary, Stern does not necessarily want to lead a congregation. She might want to become an ethical advisor.
"My understanding of religion is a very personal thing," Stern said. "I knew I always wanted to help people in whatever I did, and I realized the best way I could help people was to be a religious leader."
Religious students on campus adhere to a wide variety of beliefs, but many like Murphy agree that being religious at GW is not easy.
"Everyone thinks I'm insane when they find out I want to be a minister," Stern said.
Murphy and his friends have also encountered resistance on campus.
"My freshman year, Knights of Columbus helped out at the GWAids concert and when we did stage crew we heard someone snicker, 'Oh, the God squad is here,'" Murphy said.
Isaacson, Edelman, Elias and Bloomberg all said they have not had trouble dealing with GW students and instead were frustrated that they are not recognized.
"It has been difficult at GW because … we don't get attention," Bloomberg said.
Marcus Rubenstein, president of a new interfaith organization called the Student Alliance for Mutual Ethics, is the first person to hold a multi-religious affairs position in the Student Association. He said the religious groups on campus do not just tolerate each other but embrace one another.
"The GW student population needs to know that we enjoy being together and that we work off each other," Rubenstein said.
Rubenstein, who practices Reform Judaism, a more liberal sect of the faith, plans to become a rabbi, but studies all religions in order to gain the most insight.
"Although I am Jewish, my personal philosophy is that there's wisdom in all traditions and faiths," Rubenstein said. "There is so much genius and knowledge in every single one."
The Student Alliance for Mutual Ethics plans on holding events where the various religious organizations on campus can come together and interact, including a possible fair in Kogan Plaza next year.
SA President-elect Nicole Capp said she is very excited for the new position Rubenstein will be holding in the SA and for the work SAME will be doing this year.
"It really hasn't been done before," Capp said. "It's not always about tolerance. You should be embracing other religions, not just tolerating them."
