Dear Readers,

 

As Co-Editors of The Network, we have the great privilege of immersing you in the world of our winter issue. 

 

Each issue we create centers around a theme intended to open the minds and perspectives of our readers and to relate to current events. When we examined current events this time around — the lawsuits in California, Louisiana, Virginia, and other states protesting the banning of religious gatherings because of COVID-19, religious leaders warning that vaccines are morally compromised, the Supreme Court hearing the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, and the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan — we realized that all these issues are tied to religion. Hence, the question that underlies our content in this issue: Should we have faith in religion? Our images and articles address this question by touching on subjects that have many of us looking deep into our own systems of belief and examining our religious perspectives. As always, our hope here is to open the door of conversation and invite in lively debate and discussion. 

 

Follow along as Paige Farber guides us through the anti-abortion laws passed in Texas and considers the role of religion in the passing of these laws — and in the choices women make. Read Sohum Tripathi’s take on the jihadist group Boko Haram and the plague of mistreatment the group has spread since we last covered the subject (in our Winter 2020 issue). Consider Emma Brashear’s rundown of the effects that Covid has had on different religious groups and their practices, and learn from Lucienne Bacon’s explanation of the Taliban’s terrifying coup that took place in Afghanistan this summer. Also, sit back and relax with Yehuda and Ms. Beskowiney, AON Faculty member, who chat together about Ms. Beskowiney’s growing up in Saskatchewan, her love of travel and exploring new cultures, and the unifying force she sees in all faiths: the injunction to love others as one loves oneself.

 

On the language page, join us in an examination of Sanskrit, its origins, and its history. One of oldest languages still used and spoken in the world today, Sanskrit is the tongue of Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion (estimated to have been practiced for nearly 4,000 years!) and the third-largest. 

 

We are proud to bring back, in this issue, our Watch section. Tune in as Camilla Lynch and Yehuda discuss what it’s like to grow up under a seemingly unchanging religion that intertwines with an ever changing childhood. Also, please take time to pore over the art in this issue: Julia Hristov’s two different methods of exploring ideas tied to religion—pencil on paper is one; pen and watercolor the other—and Millie Oke’s mixed media work. And don’t miss Malia Radcliffe’s collage of images showing people practicing their faiths.

 

We hope that this issue will inspire more students to participate in The Network. This journal is a student publication, and its success is predicated on student participation. As the student editors, we hope that it will grow into something far greater than even we could ever have imagined.

 

We would like to give a special thank you to our Faculty Advisors, Ms. Amy Rosenberg and Mr. Denis Wong, for their unfaltering belief in this publication and untiring support of our efforts. We would also like to thank Mr. Austin Volz, AON Director of Program Design, for his polyglot expertise. In addition, we want to thank Mr. Jeff Lipman, Head of School, for his support of this publication. Finally, we want to thank all the students who contributed to this edition and their parents for believing in Avenues Online.

 

One last quick thing to note: if any of the topics here particularly pique your interest and you would like to perform additional research, Works Cited lists for some articles are available upon request. Please email thenetwork@avenues.org for more information.

 

We hope you enjoy this issue. May the pages of this publication engage, enlighten, and inform.

 

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Editorially Yours,

Yehuda Zilberstein (’23) and Fiona Poth (’24)