2008 Woodie Awards
Faith article divisive to SRU
Issue date: 9/30/05 Section: Rocket Letters
To The Editor:
After reading the past two articles by Josh Bortnik, I speak not only for myself, but for those on campus who are unpleased with this newspaper's discretion in continuing to publish such a divisive message. I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, as a Unitarian, I believe that God loves all people equally, and choosing means of worship is a personal choice not necessarily linked to an established religion like Christianity. This series of articles deeply troubles me. The author not only distances himself from the majority of this campus, separating himself from Christians and non-Christians alike with inflammatory phrasing such as, "If you only knew how good God is," and, "So few Christians understand the power of God." From what direct line to God does the author's information descend? "It is God's plan that you experience him in a deeper way." Is this merely in the Christian sense? If so, how should one account for the majority of the world being non-Christian? Surely, this doesn't mean the majority of the world is condemned to perish in the flames they don't even believe exist. Publishing such a sanctimonious article reflects poorly on Slippery Rock's mission to honor students' diverse cultures. When entering a state institution, students are promised freedom of religion, which also translates to freedom from religion, something this nation was based on. Prospective students who read The Rocket might feel that a half page article preaching one "right" religion denotes a campus wide sentiment, and opt to attend another university. This past week's article does have a valid point, but the message is undeniably warped. Individuals of all religions and spiritual mindsets often feel at peace after prayer or meditation. However, "spirituality" in the title of last week's article is an individual's personal beliefs about a higher deity, whether it be belief in a higher he, she, or they. Spirituality is not, however, automatically connected to a man-made religious affiliation. Before assuming that someone doesn't know "how good Jesus is," or assuming to know God/Goddess's plan to prostheletize to those who would rather faith be kept a matter of personal opinion, the author of said articles might wish to reexamine his message. Jesus didn't teach division. He taught what he believed was God's message, a liberal message of love and tolerance toward all people, not just those on their page A-11 soapbox. Jesus' message gets warped and disrespected when asserting one person's religion is more valid than another's in statements like, "Accept Jesus Christ as the lord of your life. Do it!" The truth is, we don't know if there is a right or wrong way to worship a god, who can simultaneously be Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, Allah, Luna or many different things to many different people. Almost all religions claim to be the one "right" way based on personal faith, which can't be disputed by logic, because there is no logic to dispute. This is why spirituality is a personal decision that doesn't need to hide behind a thinly veiled, "I'm better than you," message. With enough confidence in individual faith, a person doesn't need a running column to attempt to convert the entire campus when there are already so many wonderfully unique and diverse spiritualities among us.
Mary Colleen Patterson
Graduate Student
English Literature
After reading the past two articles by Josh Bortnik, I speak not only for myself, but for those on campus who are unpleased with this newspaper's discretion in continuing to publish such a divisive message. I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, as a Unitarian, I believe that God loves all people equally, and choosing means of worship is a personal choice not necessarily linked to an established religion like Christianity. This series of articles deeply troubles me. The author not only distances himself from the majority of this campus, separating himself from Christians and non-Christians alike with inflammatory phrasing such as, "If you only knew how good God is," and, "So few Christians understand the power of God." From what direct line to God does the author's information descend? "It is God's plan that you experience him in a deeper way." Is this merely in the Christian sense? If so, how should one account for the majority of the world being non-Christian? Surely, this doesn't mean the majority of the world is condemned to perish in the flames they don't even believe exist. Publishing such a sanctimonious article reflects poorly on Slippery Rock's mission to honor students' diverse cultures. When entering a state institution, students are promised freedom of religion, which also translates to freedom from religion, something this nation was based on. Prospective students who read The Rocket might feel that a half page article preaching one "right" religion denotes a campus wide sentiment, and opt to attend another university. This past week's article does have a valid point, but the message is undeniably warped. Individuals of all religions and spiritual mindsets often feel at peace after prayer or meditation. However, "spirituality" in the title of last week's article is an individual's personal beliefs about a higher deity, whether it be belief in a higher he, she, or they. Spirituality is not, however, automatically connected to a man-made religious affiliation. Before assuming that someone doesn't know "how good Jesus is," or assuming to know God/Goddess's plan to prostheletize to those who would rather faith be kept a matter of personal opinion, the author of said articles might wish to reexamine his message. Jesus didn't teach division. He taught what he believed was God's message, a liberal message of love and tolerance toward all people, not just those on their page A-11 soapbox. Jesus' message gets warped and disrespected when asserting one person's religion is more valid than another's in statements like, "Accept Jesus Christ as the lord of your life. Do it!" The truth is, we don't know if there is a right or wrong way to worship a god, who can simultaneously be Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, Allah, Luna or many different things to many different people. Almost all religions claim to be the one "right" way based on personal faith, which can't be disputed by logic, because there is no logic to dispute. This is why spirituality is a personal decision that doesn't need to hide behind a thinly veiled, "I'm better than you," message. With enough confidence in individual faith, a person doesn't need a running column to attempt to convert the entire campus when there are already so many wonderfully unique and diverse spiritualities among us.
Mary Colleen Patterson
Graduate Student
English Literature
