Religious groups across campus are looking to enlighten students about different faiths and promote religious group communication with Religious Awareness Week from today to March 4.

The annual event begins at 7 p.m. tonight in the McCormick Tribune Center Forum with a speech by Dr. Eboo Patel on expanding the interfaith youth movement. Patel is a founder and director of the Interfaith Youth Core and a member of the North American Interfaith Network and the Global Youth Action Network. He has written numerous essays and given speeches all over the world on religion and sociology.

Students curious about other religions’ views on the afterlife can go to a fireside at 4 p.m. Sunday in room 215 of Parkes Hall. Five panelists representing Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam will discuss ideas of heaven, hell, nirvana, reincarnation and other aspects of the afterlife. Students are welcome to listen and to share their own views.

“I think it’s important to get to know other people’s religions, because we have a lot of misconceptions,” said Titus Lee, president of the Northwestern University Council of Religions, or NUCOR. “We usually hear about it from the media or books, but we don’t really interact with people from different faiths. I think it’s important to correct any misunderstandings and allow people to respect other religions.”

The activities conclude at 7 p.m. next Thursday at the McCormick Tribune Center Forum with Joyful Noise-Expressions of Faith, a showcase of campus musical groups performing religious fare. This year’s concert includes acts by the Jewish Klezmer Band, the Muslim-cultural Students Association, the Northwestern Community Ensemble, the University Lutheran Church, Om-Hindu Students Council and Sikh Student Association.

Lee said he hopes the events will bring more attention to NUCOR, which plans to promote more interfaith activities during Spring Quarter.

“Next quarter we’re going to have discussions every other week on some religious issue theme,” said Lee, a Weinberg sophomore. “People can come give the views of whatever religious group they’re associated with or their own (views) if they don’t have any religion.”

University Christian Ministry member Matt Hall said he thinks it’s important to have events that reach across the NU community.

“I think the reason it’s important is it gives us an opportunity to reach out to members of other communities that wouldn’t normally come to our events,” said Hall, a Communication junior. “We have an opportunity to come together and share something across religious boundaries and across denominational boundaries.”

Religious Awareness Week

Today, 7 p.m.

Dr. Eboo Patel lectures about expanding the interfaith youth movement at the McCormick Tribune Center Forum

Sunday, 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Fireside on various religions’ views on the afterlife at Parkes Hall room 215

March 4, 7 p.m.

Religious musical groups on campus perform in “Joyful Noise – Expressions of Faith” at the McCormick Tribune Center Forum