Putting their faith into action
Halah Ahmad ’17 was born into an acute awareness of religious difference. “My dad is a Palestinian immigrant and Muslim, and my mom is Polish-American and Catholic,” explains Ahmad, who grew up in Milwaukee. “So I was familiar with interacting with different faiths, and saw how we were similar.” Julian Nunally ’17, in contrast, grew up as a Christian in the Bible Belt city of Chattanooga, Tenn. He, too, found political and social relevance in the study of comparative religion. “Religion as a tool for social change is pivotal to my studies of Christianity,” said Nunally. “Throughout history, religion has been the cornerstone of social progress. If you want people to act, it has to flow from their core values and the deeply held truths they have about life.” The two seniors are hoping to use their studies and faiths for positive change. Ahmad’s senior thesis explores active faith, focusing on the moral inclination...