2008 Woodie Awards
Religious zealots give tamer groups bad name
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Editorial
- Page 1 of 1
Our university is a hodge-podge mix of different religions, beliefs and lifestyles. Most times this heterogeneous mixture gives a rich flavor that could only be found at a public university.
Where else could you see a Methodist, a Catholic and Muslim all sitting together eating lunch in the UC? Diversity is truly a lovely sight.
But, our location in the Bible Belt sometimes gives off a "holier than thou" stench that infiltrates the campus at least once a semester, and gives all the other religious organizations a bad name.
According to Jim Hicks, associate dean of students, any religious group can come onto campus for discussion and interaction with students.
With a simple visit to the dean of students office, religious organizations have free reign over the campus and may interact however they see fit, as long as they do not disturb classes.
Most times this benefits the student body. Many cold walks to class in the morning have been brightened by a free hot cup of coffee and a smile.
One organization even brought a cotton candy machine onto campus during Welcome Week and distributed the blue raspberry fluff, only asking that students take a pamphlet in return.
This constant giving of their time, money and resources set these organizations apart from the rest, and they will definitely be remembered for their generous hospitality.
Other more extreme religious organizations will also remain near to our memory, but for far different reasons.
One of the most outrageous displays ever seen on this campus came from a group preaching fire and brimstone and we were all on the fast track to hell, according to their signs.
These offensive signs listed specifications for going to hell, some of which being: sports fans, homosexuals, Catholics, "demoncrats," Muslims and many, many more.
Instead of promoting constructive conversation and debate, these "religious zealots" did nothing more than stir up unnecessary controversy and sent mixed signals about the religious presence on campus.
Instead of offering postive solutions or an alternative route, they only damned every student on the UTC campus straight to hell, but didn't appear to care how they affected our campus culture.
The student outrage and total mockery of the religious group that occured was justified.
Students circled the group and created creative signs of their own in retalliation such as "I am Satan" and "Thou shalt not judge."
No one wants to be told they are going to hell, especially for something as minor as attending a football game or having political convictions.
The religious and secular relationship is already fragile, and anymore tampering with it could cause serious future damage.
Though students may not always agree with the message behind some of the tamer religious organizations, we should appreciate their positive presence on this campus and all the ways they strive to serve the campus.
Where else could you see a Methodist, a Catholic and Muslim all sitting together eating lunch in the UC? Diversity is truly a lovely sight.
But, our location in the Bible Belt sometimes gives off a "holier than thou" stench that infiltrates the campus at least once a semester, and gives all the other religious organizations a bad name.
According to Jim Hicks, associate dean of students, any religious group can come onto campus for discussion and interaction with students.
With a simple visit to the dean of students office, religious organizations have free reign over the campus and may interact however they see fit, as long as they do not disturb classes.
Most times this benefits the student body. Many cold walks to class in the morning have been brightened by a free hot cup of coffee and a smile.
One organization even brought a cotton candy machine onto campus during Welcome Week and distributed the blue raspberry fluff, only asking that students take a pamphlet in return.
This constant giving of their time, money and resources set these organizations apart from the rest, and they will definitely be remembered for their generous hospitality.
Other more extreme religious organizations will also remain near to our memory, but for far different reasons.
One of the most outrageous displays ever seen on this campus came from a group preaching fire and brimstone and we were all on the fast track to hell, according to their signs.
These offensive signs listed specifications for going to hell, some of which being: sports fans, homosexuals, Catholics, "demoncrats," Muslims and many, many more.
Instead of promoting constructive conversation and debate, these "religious zealots" did nothing more than stir up unnecessary controversy and sent mixed signals about the religious presence on campus.
Instead of offering postive solutions or an alternative route, they only damned every student on the UTC campus straight to hell, but didn't appear to care how they affected our campus culture.
The student outrage and total mockery of the religious group that occured was justified.
Students circled the group and created creative signs of their own in retalliation such as "I am Satan" and "Thou shalt not judge."
No one wants to be told they are going to hell, especially for something as minor as attending a football game or having political convictions.
The religious and secular relationship is already fragile, and anymore tampering with it could cause serious future damage.
Though students may not always agree with the message behind some of the tamer religious organizations, we should appreciate their positive presence on this campus and all the ways they strive to serve the campus.
