Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Hindu Lawyer, Religion Scholar Oversees Religious Life at USC

(Voice of America) As American universities become increasingly diverse, the job of supporting the spiritual life of students has become more complex.  Many universities have chaplains and faith-based clubs, often overseen by a school official called the dean of religious life.  The man who fills that post at the University of Southern California is Indian-born lawyer and religion scholar Varun Soni, who says he relishes the challenge. 

Varun Soni coordinates the USC chaplain corps of 50 clergymen and women of various faiths, who offer counseling and conduct religious services.  Yet he is not ordained himself.  He is a lawyer, religion scholar, and entrepreneur who once ran an India-based business that did legal work for American high tech firms.  He’s also Hindu.

“It is unusual for someone like me to be in a position like this.  I’m the first Hindu in American history to be the chief religious or spiritual leader of a university.  I’m the only non-Christian currently serving in this capacity," he said.

Soni admits that, like many of his friends of other faiths, he grew up in the United States somewhat disconnected from his religious heritage.  His family did celebrate Hindu holidays. “Theologically or scripturally, we didn't know much about our own tradition.  And in fact, it wasn't until I got to college that I really began to study Hinduism and Buddhism, that I really began to learn about my own [religious] traditions," he said.

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