Brigham Young University hosted its first Interfaith Arts Night on Monday, Feb. 2, at the BYU Museum of Art.
Highlighting the beauty of preserving interfaith communities, the program consisted of musical performances, recitations of poetry and commentary shared from interfaith students.
The event included performances by BYU’s Rhythm and Soul Collective and BYU Folk Dance Ensemble.
“It was a beautiful reinforcement that we are all one before the Lord, and I really appreciate that about all interfaith work. It reminds us of our shared humanity in a world that is so focused on polarization,” said Alexandra McKenzie Johns, a BYU theatre faculty member.
During the event, McKenzie Johns recited a powerful monologue from the drama "All the Beautiful Things," which will be displayed for community members to see later this year upon the opening of the new Arts Building in October.
“I think events like tonight, where we watch Bharatanatyam from the Hindu tradition, where we hear poems and songs from multiple different religions and cultures … (serves as) a beautiful reminder that more unites us than divides us,” Johns said, thoughtfully.
Audience members listened attentively as vocalists sang songs of praise, binding the bridges of differing faiths through music and poetry.
“I'm gonna get emotional," Sophie Wilson said, a student at BYU. “It was just so powerful and so needed in our world right now. Just to see all the different cultures and all the different things people bring to the table and how valuable they are.”
Wilson reflected on the messages shared between performers.
“I really agree with someone who said that ‘culture is our soul. It's not just an accessory,’” Wilson said.
Representing the rich cultures of the African Diaspora, members of BYU’s Rhythm and Soul Collective (RSC) performed two upbeat dances and three inspiring gospel songs.
“I really, really loved one of the pieces from Rhythm and Soul Collective’s gospel choir, ‘The Storm is Passing Over.’” BYU senior Kara Haack said. “The story and the experience felt really personal to me in my life right now, and so I was really touched, and I had a great experience.”
Haack was not the only individual who was touched by the Interfaith Arts Night performances.
Salma Al-Shuqairat, a Muslim BYU student, shared her experience.
“It was honestly really beautiful to see faith represented in the arts,” she said. “In Islam, our faith is expressed through song and dance, and it's so beautiful to see other faiths have that. It was honestly really empowering to see."
Hoping that her fellow students choose to build bridges of connection rather than seeking reasons to grow apart, Al-Shuqairat went on.
“I wish more students knew how big an opportunity it is to open your perspective to the world and learn more about differing faiths," she said.
Drawing upon personal experience, she said, “I think a lot of times people can be so content in their own faith and own way of thinking, which is a beautiful thing, but I don't think you can ever reach full fulfillment unless you take the time to explore other faiths as well."
