Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will address the students of Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYUI) in Rexburg, which “was founded and is supported and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”, whose mission includes “to develop disciples of Jesus Christ…”.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, will address the students on May 28 in a meeting organized by BYUI Interfaith Leadership Society, where faculty of Department of Religious Education has also been invited. Almost all of the Society students are reportedly members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with only rare exceptions.
BYUI Interfaith Leadership Society, “student-led, student-run organization for students of BYU-Idaho”, founded in 2020, has reportedly over 400 members. Jaxon Waite is the President; while Dr. Ryan S. Gardner, who teaches World Religions and LDS doctrine and history, is Faculty Advisor.
Rajan Zed, a global Hindu and interfaith leader, has been bestowed with the World Interfaith Leader Award. Zed is on the Advisory Board of The Interfaith Peace Project, Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, etc. He has been a panelist for “On Faith”, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced by The Washington Post; and leads a weekly interfaith panel “Faith Forum” in a USA TODAY Network publication for over 15 years.
In Idaho, Zed has read opening-prayers in the State Senate; Board of Commissioners of Bonneville and Owyhee counties; and City Councils of Boise, Meridian, Burley, Star, St. Anthony, Arimo.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.2 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about 3.2 million Hindus in the USA.
At BYUI, to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, students must take 14 credits in religion. Total BYUI student enrollment is stated to be 50,336 and 20% campus based students are married. Alvin F. Meredith III is the President.
