Religion & Spirituality

Religion & Spirituality Considerations Abroad

Be sure to look at the student evaluations for your program to find helpful information and advice from Northwestern students who have already studied abroad.
Look at international news sources like The Economist to get a sense of current political and societal issues in your host country.
Read news and commentary on religion worldwide through BBC Religion and Ethics.

CAMPUS RESOURCES

Office of Religious and Spiritual Life: Works to promote spiritual growth and maturity at Northwestern University.
Religious & Spiritual Student Groups: Student-led religious & spiritual groups on campus.
If you have dietary restrictions for religious reasons, visit the Dietary Restrictions page.

INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES

The Pluralism Project: Seeks to help Americans engage with the realities of religious diversity.
International Religious Freedom Report: The U.S. Department of State's annual report describes the status of religious freedom in every country.

Religious & Spiritual Groups Abroad

For students searching for a particular religious or spiritual group abroad, the following sites may prove helpful:

Agnostic/Atheist/Humanist

International Humanist and Ethical Union: IHEU is the world union of over a hundred Humanist, rationalist, secular, ethical culture, atheist and freethought organizations in more than 40 countries.
Secular Web: List of organizations, including a limited number of international student organizations.

Buddhism

World Buddhist Directory: Worldwide searchable database of Buddhist organizations.

Christianity

Church Finder: Limited international church listings.
Christianity Today International: International network of Christian ministries.

Many denominations have their own church directories. Try searching for your denomination and your host country or city name.

Hinduism

Hindu Temples Worldwide: Details of various Hindu temples in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, Europe, UK and the Caribbean.

Islam

Islamic Finder: Directory of prayer times, Islamic organizations, and mosques worldwide.
Muslim Internet Directory: List of organizations and online resources worldwide.
Halal Restaurants & Stores: Directory of halal restaurants and stores worldwide.
Muslims Abroad: Resources for Muslim students

Judaism

Jewish Virtual Library: List of synagogues worldwide.
World Union of Jewish Students: WUJS is an international umbrella organization comprised of 48 national independent Jewish Student Unions around the world.
Union of Jewish Students: Organization supporting Jewish students, spanning 60 Jewish Societies (J-Socs), on campuses across the UK and Ireland.

Connect with GLO Ambassadors:

Religion- or spirituality-focused GLO Ambassadors can share their experiences in-country.

The level of commitment to religious diversity and freedom can vary by country. It is important to research and understand the religious and spiritual beliefs of your host country. Spending time in a country where the major religion is different from your own can lead to a better understanding of your own notions of spirituality. Additionally, you may wish to connect with a religious community abroad to further your cultural immersion or find a source of support during your time abroad.