Religious Life Policy
Inter American University of Puerto Rico is an ecumenically oriented institution, but does not adhere to any one particular theology or ecclesiastical body. Founded by Dr. John William Harris, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, Inter American University maintains a historic, friendly and enriching association with that communion as well as with other Christian groups in accordance with its ecumenical spirit.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico is a community of higher education dedicated to a comprehensive search for truth within an environment of responsible freedom and through the encouragement of a mature academic life which guarantees true freedom of investigation. Within this context, religion is studied in the University as an academic discipline designed to engage in fruitful dialog with other university disciplines.
In affirming its commitment to the Christian ecumenical ideal, the University dedicates itself to the renewal and reaffirmation not only of its own Christian heritage, but also the culture within which it is situated and which it serves. This does not oblige the acceptance of all the details of our Christian past nor of all the elements of modern Christianity. Nevertheless, the University has fostered and will continue to foster the convergence of all Christians in the one faith centered about the person of Jesus Christ as He is made known to us in the apostolic tradition of the Scriptures as the One whom Christians regard as decisive, definite and normative in man’s relations with God and his fellow men and society. The University affirms its conviction that to be a Christian today implies, on the one hand, knowledge of and obedience to the Gospel and, on the other, identification with the Universal church by means of an individual commitment to a particular Christian communion.
The ecumenical posture of the University involves openness to society, science, technology and a plurality of faiths; it involves an integral education of each individual so he or she may exercise a vocation within his or her community in a responsible and productive way; it involves a commitment to serve though not to dominate society; and it involves the development of friendliness, fellowship and understanding to bridge human barriers.
The University promotes the following Christian-ecumenical values:
WE BELIEVE IN GOD AS A SUPREME BEING
God is the Supreme Being who created all that exists. His power and presence are revealed in the person of his Son Jesus, the Savior, and in the Holy Spirit, that guides the community of faith.
WE BELIEVE IN JESUS
We accept that the apostolic tradition of the Scriptures recognizes and accepts Jesus as decisive, definite and normative for humans’ relations with God, their fellow men, family and society. Since He is the Savior and Mediator of Humanity, it is our commitment to continue fostering the convergence of all Christians through the one faith around the person of Jesus.
WE BELIEVE IN LIFE
We affirm that life is a gift of God. We foment that all human beings value their life so they may be able to give their best to the country, family and society. We promote the preservation of life, and therefore promote a Christian consciousness in education.
WE BELIEVE IN THE FAMILY
We believe that the family is the essential social nucleus where the initial values that shape the person are developed. We commit ourselves to reinforce these values, from their Biblical foundation, that help each human being to achieve the complete life and make it extensive to others.
WE BELIEVE IN SERVICE
We affirm our ecumenical Christian ideal and devote our efforts to renew and reaffirm service to our country, society, family and fellow men.
WE BELIEVE IN THE IDENTITY OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF FAITH
We affirm that the conviction of being Christian implies knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God and, also, identification and commitment to the Church and to the person’s particular Christian community.
WE BELIEVE IN INTEGRAL EDUCATION
Our Christian ecumenical position provides openness to society, science and technology, with an integral mentality, an attitude of respect and a moral conduct in harmony with our values.
We foment the integral education of each person for carrying out his vocation in a responsible way and with a moral conduct and a productive performance in his community.
We are a community of higher education in an integral search of the truth, within an environment of freedom, through the encouragement of a mature academic life that guarantees the true freedom of investigation.
WE BELIEVE IN THE COMMITMENT WITH OUR FELLOW MEN
We believe that to be Christian it is to have and show a commitment of service to others based on love and not on the dominion of society, but rather on promoting friendship, solidarity, tolerance and understanding to bridge human barrier.
WE BELIEVE IN THE STUDY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION
We promote the study of the Christian religion as an academic discipline in which a fruitful dialog with the other academic disciplines is maintained.
We will continue to strengthen the development of the religion studies program by providing all students the opportunity to acquire an understanding of the Christian faith and its implications for our culture.
To achieve this, Inter American University of Puerto Rico will continue and strengthen the development of its programs of religious studies and will provide to all its students an opportunity to understand the Christian faith and its implications for our culture; the University will furnish information about the most important aspects of the world’s major religions to its students and will encourage them to appreciate these religions within their historic, theological and philosophic context. In this way, the search for faith and for the means to humanize mankind may be seen as a relevant option in a world striving for greater understanding and happiness.
The commitment of Inter American University to its Christian Heritage, as well as to its academic mission, will manifest itself through the development of an ecumenical program of religious life.
In accordance with this basic religious philosophy for the academic study of religion and for the development of religious activities, Inter American University, by its act and works, will:
- Encourage the expression of the Christian principles here set forth,
- Require the academic study of fundamentals of the Christian faith,
- Require each instructional unit to establish an Office of Religious Life, which will serve the entire University community.