Professor disagrees with decision to deny religious group a campus spot
John Reist, professor of Christianity and literature
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Opinion
Dear Editor:
I am writing to express concern about the administration decision reported in The Collegian, to deny University Christian Outreach (UCO) access to campus facilities for their Christian meetings.
After talking with four administrators and several students to hear their explanations for the decision (some of which are impressive!), it still seems to me that the decision, though well intended, is unfair and unwise.
Basically, it favors certain religious groups over UCO.
It discourages - if it does not actually destroy - open, free access to all Christian religious groups.
It is inconsistent with the Baptist founders of our college. Baptists have always - and rightly - insisted on soul freedom, soul conscience and soul competence.
I, of course, welcome and support the Hillsdale Christian Fellowship, the Catholic Society, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Eastern Orthodox Fellowship on campus - for the same reasons that I have for questioning the decision to reject UCO on campus.
I have been told that I am "stirring the pot," which is merely a metaphysical attempt to deny an open discussion; and anyway the metaphor is weak and inept. If no one "stirs the pot," the soup will boil, and eventually boil away! No stirring, no soup! Moses stirred the pot; Socrates stirred the pot; Amos stirred the pot; John the Baptist stirred the pot; Jesus stirred the pot; Paul stirred the pot; Martin Luther stirred the pot; Martin Luther King, Jr. stirred the pot!
I do believe this decision is misguided. And so do some of the student members of UCO. If I myself - and others - are misguided, perhaps we can talk - on or off campus.
And thanks to The Collegian for "stirring the pot" throughout this year.
-John Reist, professor of Christianity and literature
I am writing to express concern about the administration decision reported in The Collegian, to deny University Christian Outreach (UCO) access to campus facilities for their Christian meetings.
After talking with four administrators and several students to hear their explanations for the decision (some of which are impressive!), it still seems to me that the decision, though well intended, is unfair and unwise.
Basically, it favors certain religious groups over UCO.
It discourages - if it does not actually destroy - open, free access to all Christian religious groups.
It is inconsistent with the Baptist founders of our college. Baptists have always - and rightly - insisted on soul freedom, soul conscience and soul competence.
I, of course, welcome and support the Hillsdale Christian Fellowship, the Catholic Society, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Eastern Orthodox Fellowship on campus - for the same reasons that I have for questioning the decision to reject UCO on campus.
I have been told that I am "stirring the pot," which is merely a metaphysical attempt to deny an open discussion; and anyway the metaphor is weak and inept. If no one "stirs the pot," the soup will boil, and eventually boil away! No stirring, no soup! Moses stirred the pot; Socrates stirred the pot; Amos stirred the pot; John the Baptist stirred the pot; Jesus stirred the pot; Paul stirred the pot; Martin Luther stirred the pot; Martin Luther King, Jr. stirred the pot!
I do believe this decision is misguided. And so do some of the student members of UCO. If I myself - and others - are misguided, perhaps we can talk - on or off campus.
And thanks to The Collegian for "stirring the pot" throughout this year.
-John Reist, professor of Christianity and literature
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Marty
posted 3/12/09 @ 4:16 PM EST
What reasons were given for the rejection of UCO?
Joy Pavelski
posted 3/21/09 @ 1:28 PM EST
Marty (Muntz?) -- read more about that here: http://media.www.hillsdalecollegian.com/media/storage/paper1270/news/2009/02/12/News/Dean-Denies.Student. (Continued…)
Post a Comment