Comments on: Christianity and Oberlin: Not So Incompatible http://www.fearlessandloathing.com/2010/03/christianity-and-oberlin-not-so-incompatible/ Oberlin College's Independent News Source Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:08:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Matthew http://www.fearlessandloathing.com/2010/03/christianity-and-oberlin-not-so-incompatible/comment-page-1/#comment-561 Matthew Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:46:59 +0000 http://www.fearlessandloathing.com/?p=2795#comment-561 Nice conversation starter, Angela! I'm someone who identifies as a progressive Christian myself so I can certainly appreciate where these students are coming from in their desire not to be seen as "Bible-thumping, non-thinking hypocrites.” Like most faiths the most fundamentalist extremists are the ones who make the loudest noise and sadly as a result, they're what people tend to think of when someone mentions Christianity. (for the record, the Phelps, Roberts and Becks of the world piss me off just as much as anyone!) Any idea how student groups formed around other faiths co-exist at Oberlin? I'd be interested to see what experiences are unique to each but also what commonalities the students share across dogmatic lines. It could make a cool follow-up! And Thomas: Personally I don't feel offended by the idea that my belief in a Higher Power is no different than the faith Greeks, Norse, etc. put into the religious structures of their day. Plenty of Christians would disagree but hey, I'm not about to downplay the devotion of ancient cultures just because I think a half-man, half-bull is silly. On the other hand, I would definitely agree with the student's complaint if the professor singled out Christianity and didn't put all contemporary faiths in the same mythological boat. Nice conversation starter, Angela! I’m someone who identifies as a progressive Christian myself so I can certainly appreciate where these students are coming from in their desire not to be seen as “Bible-thumping, non-thinking hypocrites.” Like most faiths the most fundamentalist extremists are the ones who make the loudest noise and sadly as a result, they’re what people tend to think of when someone mentions Christianity. (for the record, the Phelps, Roberts and Becks of the world piss me off just as much as anyone!)

Any idea how student groups formed around other faiths co-exist at Oberlin? I’d be interested to see what experiences are unique to each but also what commonalities the students share across dogmatic lines. It could make a cool follow-up!

And Thomas:
Personally I don’t feel offended by the idea that my belief in a Higher Power is no different than the faith Greeks, Norse, etc. put into the religious structures of their day. Plenty of Christians would disagree but hey, I’m not about to downplay the devotion of ancient cultures just because I think a half-man, half-bull is silly.

On the other hand, I would definitely agree with the student’s complaint if the professor singled out Christianity and didn’t put all contemporary faiths in the same mythological boat.

]]> By: Thomas Vozar http://www.fearlessandloathing.com/2010/03/christianity-and-oberlin-not-so-incompatible/comment-page-1/#comment-553 Thomas Vozar Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:27:15 +0000 http://www.fearlessandloathing.com/?p=2795#comment-553 "...in one of her courses, her teacher placed Christianity within different types of mythology." Why should it be considered otherwise? “…in one of her courses, her teacher placed Christianity within different types of mythology.”

Why should it be considered otherwise?

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