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2/11/2003 05:59:00 PM | Timothy A challenge I am not sure that political 'proselytization' is always in the same category as religious proselytization. Politicians can want someone's vote, not their soul. But with some organizing and advocacy, you can see similarity. (And there is a reason why 'religion and politics' are said to be something you shouldn't discuss on a first date--- b.s. I say, but I like talking about controversial things). I definitely see a difference when we are talking about young children, and would not support for example public prayer in schools. But in college? Religion can be a very personal thing. But no one has a right not to have their religion challenged, do they? Well, at least those who attack CCC and those who sincerely believe non-Christians (including Catholics) are going to hell cannot say religions can never be challenged. Why should you not be able to convince other people your religion is right? I think effectively most religious literature at Dartmouth ends up being a nuisance, as if this one thing will suddenly convince someone of another faith. I have to admit I wasn't so sure it was wrong for copies of 'Mere Christianity' to be mailed out to the freshman class. I find it ironic that a Chrisitian who was considered liberal in his day is now considered offensive (it may be so, but that is still funny to me...). Now I think proselytizing has the problem that it does not respect the other's religion (could it ever do so?). But I shouldn't have to be harassed. But I disagree with any notion that someone should never be able to say my religion is wrong, or even that I'm damned. More to the point, I have wondered whether it is coherant to demand that your group be counted as 'Christian': I think the people who exclude do so often for bigotted reasons, but what right do you have to be included in an exlusionary group? (As for Tucker and the Summer Christian Fellowship, they were hypocritical in not saying what they were doing at all so it could be openly criticized. They ducked the issues as if they could grasp as vague platitudes) On the other hand, religious groups often do sign 'non-offensive pacts' such as when evangelical christian groups agree not to try to convert Jews. But Phil Donahue once said something like how can you tell me I'm not going to heaven? Well, that's what religion says, no? Phil's point was that you would look at me as less of a person. That may be a problem if it is enacted in law, but privately is it?? PS. I just saw Emmett Hogan on dartlog saying people on FreeDartmouth are "looking to see who can make the most boneheaded statements with respects to the Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) -- statements that will reveal the speakers' numbing ignorance, their blind bigotry, or maybe even both." I wish Emmett would show the same sensativity to racial issues that he shows here. He denied that Trent Lott's statement last year was an example of 'numbing ignorance' or 'blind bigotry' yet he proclaims it so starkly here. Pretty soon he'll be accusing liberals of hypocrisy for offending Christians while not realizing he's also hypocritical for ONLY defending groups like Christians. Worse, if the same thing were said about Muslims, Emmett might be laughing his ass off. perma link |
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