The Doyle Engaging Difference Program - Georgetown University

Before studying abroad, if you were to ask me whether I thought about religion often, truthfully, the answer would have been yes. Throughout the past few years, religion has become one of my interests and passions—studying it, seeing its history, and living it. This interest led me to declare a minor in religion, ethics, and world affairs, an academic intersection between international relations and religious studies. The Doyle Global Dialogue program has given me the space to delve further into how religion shapes our world. Through my time abroad, I found that there was truly no better place to engage in this conversation than the country of Spain.

My time in Spain was filled with travels, tapas, and churches… so many churches. A common, somewhat one-dimensional perception of Spain’s religious identity is that the country is Catholic. I, too, would have gone into my study abroad program with this perspective, had I not taken a class the semester before I left called Medieval Iberian Peninsula: Cultures in Contact. Through this coursework, I learned about the history of the Iberian Peninsula, which is the territory of modern-day Spain and Portugal. Specifically, the class focused on the coexistence of the three religions in the region: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Sometimes this coexistence was peaceful, with Arab emirs in Al-Andalus having diplomatic relations with the Christian kings of Castile. Other times, the coexistence was violent. I was extremely grateful to have the historical context of the religious foundations of Spain before living in the country. It allowed me to approach my study abroad experience from an informed and nuanced perspective. Even if the perception of modern-day Spain was currently a Catholic identity, I knew that identity had been built upon a rich history of both Jewish and Muslim culture.

Although Madrid was my home base, I was able to travel all throughout Spain. I went down south to Granada and Seville, up north to Bilbao and San Sebastian, east to Barcelona, and a little west to Salamanca. From these trips, I was able to truly get a feel for the country’s geography, its distinct cultures, and its religious diversity. Throughout the whole country, the impact of Christianity was prominent. Nearly every few blocks, regardless of what region I was in, I was able to find a church. Some were small, local parishes, others had the grandest architecture I have ever seen. The Cathedral of Toledo truly took my breath away. Aside from the presence of churches, I saw Christianity reflected in many aspects of Spanish society and culture. For example, the National Day of Spain, or Día de la Hispanidad, is celebrated on the same day Our Lady of Pillar appeared to Saint James in Zaragoza in 1642. On the 14th of October, the streets of Madrid were lined with both military parades and religious processions. To me, this celebration perfectly exemplified the intersection between Spanish nationality and Spanish Christianity that I observed.

As I had hoped, I also found the presence and influence of both Judaism and Islam throughout my travels. Most prominently, I found them in Toledo and in Andalusia. Toledo, a small town in the center of Spain, not only holds the second-largest Cathedral in all of Spain, but it also preserves the history of Jewish communities. In medieval Spain, it was very common for religious communities to live in separate living quarters. Sometimes this separation was by choice, but other times, it was by force. While in Toledo, I walked through the old Jewish quarters. There was a sign on the ground in English, Spanish, and Hebrew that let visitors know they were entering the Jewish neighborhood, and in the corner of each house, there were little tiles with the Star of David or a menorah. When speaking to a local, she explained that although there was no longer a separation of the religions amongst the Toledo population, many Jewish people lived in the old Jewish quarters to be closer to the synagogue (the only one in this part of town), to feel more connected to their religion and culture. This reminded me of how diasporas of people immigrating to the U.S. often congregate within a certain part of a town or around a certain parish to maintain a sense of community and belonging as a minority group. I assume the Jews in Toledo held a similar perspective.

When I went to Andalusia, the region of southern Spain, I found strong connections to Islam. Andalusia used to be Al-Andalus, where the most prominent and powerful Arab dynasties ruled Spain for over 700 years. Their influence can still be greatly felt. In Granada, I visited the Alhambra, an Arab fortress from the 13th century. The entire fortress was covered with spectacular Arab calligraphy, most often with designs of the word Allah or God. One of the most interesting parts for me was found in the king’s bedchamber, where our guide pointed out a series of ceiling paintings in the room that had been painted by a royal artist of the Christian King in the northern kingdom. He explained that Muslim artists were sent to the North and Christian artists were commissioned in the South as a form of good relations and diplomacy between the Muslim and Christian rulers. As someone who had learned so much about conflict between the two religions and kingdoms, it was an amazing experience to see a reminder of their often peaceful coexistence.

My time in Spain is a time in my life that will remain dear to me. I have found the country to be a unique mosaic, built upon the beautiful fragments of three distinct religions. Although Christianity is most prevalent in the day-to-day life of the twenty-first century, you cannot deny the influences of Islam and Judaism on Spanish identity. In engaging in this identity, I have found my horizons to be broadened and my heart to be opened.