|
Written by Eric
|
|
Tuesday, 14 April 2009 09:23 |
|
Thanks everyone, for the support and discussion and participation. I'd like to inform anyone interested that we will be forming a group for the University of Pittsburgh for religious tolerance and a separate group for the atheists/non-religious out there. The religious tolerance group will be a place to go for anyone with beliefs of any kind, where we will try to work together with all the different religious and non-religious organizations at Pitt. As Ben has said in a discussion for the purpose of this group, called SPARE: The purpose of this group is just as the name suggests, to promote and discuss all religions and beliefs equally. We exist not to determine what is right and wrong, but to learn from each other and be a community of people who can think outside of the boxes of society and religion.
I hope through this we can all learn and become more understanding about how and why each and everyone of us sees things in the way we do. We hope that we can work with the current religious groups, give some airtime to the lesser known religions, and to inspire debate and thinking. As for the atheists and non-religious out there, we will try to start a freethinking group, but we need ideas and separate members. If anyone would like to help or join, please email me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or visit the facebook group for Spare. We would also like to speak to the leaders or members of any of the religious groups for ideas on collaboration events. Thanks. |
|
|
Written by Becca
|
|
Tuesday, 07 April 2009 00:11 |
A while ago, the area director for Campus Crusade responded to this site in the comments on my column entitled "Speaking Out." I appreciate the response, and am glad that we've been noticed by the people from CCC. I also apologize for taking so long to respond, it's been a busy week.
While I apriciate the comment and do believe they are sincere in their apology, I take issue with some of the things said. In the response by jweimer25, she/he says "I try to avoid deceptive techniques at all cost." What I cannot understand is how someone dedicated to avoiding deception in conversion techniques let this campaign through. While once at the site, people can do whatever they like, it is impossible to deny that the ads and the campaign is a classic bait'n'switch. The ads, the promotion, everything that is not the site avoid at all cost mentioning the subject of what they are advertising. They only say "EveryPittStudent.com." They do not mention what the site is, there is no indication of who put it up (unless you count the enigmatic three letters "Cru"), the URL is completely helpless, and it suggests something for every Pitt student. If one does not know that they have anything to do with Christianity, it does not even come to mind until arrival at the site. If CCC wants to have a site for people to talk and ask questions about Jesus, they are absolutely free to. That is not an issue. The issue is that the ads are deceptive. They do not strike some of us as such, they are such. They are frankly deceptive proselytization techniques. The website is fine, truly. But don't claim to dislike and avoid deceptive techniques when it is clear that you are using them.
And frankly, there are guidelines for being a Student organization on Pitt's campus, and I assume the the CCC that initiated this campaign is the CCC student group listed under the student organizations on the Pitt homepage. There are, in fact, 31 Requirements for Certification listed here( http://www.sorc.pitt.edu/pdf/WEB_Certification_Policy.pdf). Number 8 is as follows: 8. Refrain from the use of deceptive recruitment practices and the use of coercion, manipulation and proselytization techniques as a means of recruitment.
Also, to address this:
"This is that it's actually arrogant of Christians NOT to share what we believe with the world. If what we believe is true - that Jesus Christ is indeed God in the flesh, that He gave His life as a sacrifice to save ours, and that without Him people are in grave eternal danger - then to sit on those beliefs and not share Jesus with others would be tantamount to just waving at those who pass us by on their way to Hell. It's not that we think our beliefs are better than anyone else's or that we ourselves are better than anyone else - we simply recognize the tremendous gift given to us by Jesus and feel obligated to share that with others. It would be wrong of us not to."
What is being said is "Its not that we believe our beliefs to be better, its just that our beliefs are better." The act of trying to convert means that the beliefs of the converter are held higher than the judgment and beliefs of the subject of the conversion. That is the very definition of arrogance. What is worse is that the CCC has tried to do this through a bait and switch type, deceptive advertising campaign. If Jesus' message is for everyone, than it should not need to hide itself.
And I know we're not all atheists on this site, but we have been noticed by a reasonably well known atheist blog- Friendly Atheist, by Hemant Mehta, who is actually coming to speak at Carnegie Mellon this Friday (Good Friday) at 6 pm. Thought ya'll would like to know.
-Becca |
|
Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 April 2009 09:24 |
|
Written by BCress
|
|
Thursday, 02 April 2009 22:52 |
|
In response to the post in the Beliefs section of our site by Julia, a member of the Campus Crusade for Christ: It is correct that many people try and find themselves and organize their thoughts on religion in their time at college. Every student, just by being here, has embarked on a journey to become something more than just a person in a crowd by striving to make something more out of their lives. This being said we also need to realize that this is no longer the days of high school, which in my case meant no studying or effort to attain good grades. College is hard, a lot of professors really seem to care less about their students, and constant stress can take its toll on a person's mind. We all in one way or another become tired and more open to ideas that we may not have been in any other setting. This means that we are all a little weaker to persuasive influences. |
|
Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 April 2009 07:08 |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Eric
|
|
Friday, 03 April 2009 19:36 |
|
Anthony asked in the Your Beliefs section: "Does anyone know if there is a Pitt Humanist chapter or Atheist-Agnostic group?" As far as I know, the only group is SENSE, but they are a service group. Sense is a good group with good people, but their focus is helping people without the backing of a religious purpose or group. There is no group dedicated to the nonreligious or unsure or Humanists. We are looking to create one, though. We are having a discussion on the Facebook group board on the details. We'll gladly consider any comments here about the new group. Eric |
|
Written by Eric
|
|
Sunday, 29 March 2009 13:04 |
|
Just a note to everyone and anyone: Please take the time to fill out the Your Beliefs page. We want to give everyone a chance to share their beliefs. It will only take a few minutes of your time. Also, send any suggestions for the site to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Appreciate it. Thanks. Eric |
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 1 of 2 |
