2008 Woodie Awards
A letter to the editor
LLOYD LOWE
Guest Opinion
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Opinion
Friday, Oct 17th, BSU held a tailgate party for parent and family weekend, which the Secular Student Alliance was excited to be a part of. As president of the club I’m always looking for ways to reach out and let other non-religious students know that we exist and that they aren’t alone in their critical examination of religion.
This is still our first semester as a group but we’re trying hard to stay involved with activities around campus so this was the third time we’d been able to advertise like this. I had a class just before the event so I went early to set up some of our supplies beforehand. Among the signs I put up were quotes by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and a banner bearing the question: “Outgrown your imaginary friend?”
Upon returning from my class I found that someone had untapped our banner and turned it upside down so no one could read it. I was approached by event coordinators once I started to display it again and told that I would have to speak to Kelly Stevens the new director of student activities. Suffice it to say she wasn’t moved by any of my pleadings and flatly declared that either the banner came down or we would be forced to leave.
Apparently there had been complaints. You know, like with the condoms?
Our banner, which appealed to reason, offended the superstitious beliefs of some people on campus. Just as their superstitious beliefs offend our sensibility and reason. When the non-religious complain about the blatant acts of proselytizing on campus they are dismissed. But when we attempt to promote critical thinking our views are suppressed. There is something wrong with this. Why is religion allowed a free pass at criticizing other beliefs (and non-beliefs) and yet immune from criticism itself?
Looking at this only in terms of religion masks a larger issue about the role of skepticism in general. We never referred to any one imaginary friend in particular. There are many and they are normally associated with childhood, like the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. But there are many false beliefs held by adults who should know better. Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, UFOs, ghosts, guardian angels, numerology, psychics, and this paper even has horoscopes!
So the message I’m getting is that reason and critical thought are out, but millennia old superstitions are in. If god really didn’t want us out there asking questions I’m sure he could have handled the situation. Even Thor could have mustered a little lightning bolt. The BSU administration really didn’t have to get involved.
We are a group of students who embrace rational reasoning and empirical evidence over superstition, which we find to be just plain silly in this enlightened era. Please don’t take us back to medieval times, where the majority religion quashed and silenced other religious practices.
Lloyd Lowe is the president of the BSSSA
This is still our first semester as a group but we’re trying hard to stay involved with activities around campus so this was the third time we’d been able to advertise like this. I had a class just before the event so I went early to set up some of our supplies beforehand. Among the signs I put up were quotes by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and a banner bearing the question: “Outgrown your imaginary friend?”
Upon returning from my class I found that someone had untapped our banner and turned it upside down so no one could read it. I was approached by event coordinators once I started to display it again and told that I would have to speak to Kelly Stevens the new director of student activities. Suffice it to say she wasn’t moved by any of my pleadings and flatly declared that either the banner came down or we would be forced to leave.
Apparently there had been complaints. You know, like with the condoms?
Our banner, which appealed to reason, offended the superstitious beliefs of some people on campus. Just as their superstitious beliefs offend our sensibility and reason. When the non-religious complain about the blatant acts of proselytizing on campus they are dismissed. But when we attempt to promote critical thinking our views are suppressed. There is something wrong with this. Why is religion allowed a free pass at criticizing other beliefs (and non-beliefs) and yet immune from criticism itself?
Looking at this only in terms of religion masks a larger issue about the role of skepticism in general. We never referred to any one imaginary friend in particular. There are many and they are normally associated with childhood, like the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. But there are many false beliefs held by adults who should know better. Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, UFOs, ghosts, guardian angels, numerology, psychics, and this paper even has horoscopes!
So the message I’m getting is that reason and critical thought are out, but millennia old superstitions are in. If god really didn’t want us out there asking questions I’m sure he could have handled the situation. Even Thor could have mustered a little lightning bolt. The BSU administration really didn’t have to get involved.
We are a group of students who embrace rational reasoning and empirical evidence over superstition, which we find to be just plain silly in this enlightened era. Please don’t take us back to medieval times, where the majority religion quashed and silenced other religious practices.
Lloyd Lowe is the president of the BSSSA
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 26
Jonathan Schoenfelder
posted 10/30/08 @ 6:53 AM MST
Let's not have any delusions on the matter: the question "Have you outgrown your imaginary friend?" is not one made in the spirit of critical examination. (Continued…)
Robert Ormond
posted 10/30/08 @ 9:49 AM MST
It is interesting to me that intelligence is always partnered with ungodliness. As we can tell by this editorial, intelligence is very much individual as well as belief. (Continued…)
Not Amused
posted 10/30/08 @ 11:07 AM MST
That make a big deal out of a sign, but a bunch of crosses on the quad, paired with a nitwit dressed up like Jesus is perfectly fine. Right...
Marissa Yeshe Palmo
posted 10/30/08 @ 12:52 PM MST
TO Jonathan - You missed the point. There is nothing to understand so how can anyone have the willingness to understand it?! You're post just shows how nasty, insulting and misguided you are. (Continued…)
Kevin the Atheist
posted 10/31/08 @ 9:14 AM MST
Jonathan.
I only have one point to make as I do not live near Idaho and do not have all the details. I am specifically responding to point number 1 in your reply to Marissa. (Continued…)
Daniel Alderman
posted 10/31/08 @ 3:47 PM MST
Jonathan, while I agree with what you said on my website about censorship, I believe you come across in this response as a person who feels superior. I hope that's not your intention. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 11/02/08 @ 10:25 AM MST
The bottom line is that the banner is insulting to people of faith. And when you put something like that up at an event that is meant to attract people it can leave a bad taste in their mouths. (Continued…)
AaronB
posted 11/02/08 @ 9:46 PM MST
All of your wordy replies are pretty much worthless. I don't care what the guy's banner says. The fact remains that in this country, you can put whatever you want on a banner and display it, insulting or no. (Continued…)
Daniel Alderman
posted 11/03/08 @ 2:36 PM MST
Ryan,
If you can't elevate your level of discourse to an adult level, then you need to go find a sandbox to play in. We're all adults here, it's expected that we behave like adults. (Continued…)
brian
posted 11/05/08 @ 2:49 PM MST
Jonathan: I have enjoyed your posts on this message board, with the exception of this article. Your first post came off as arrogant, and the rest of them have been logical excuses for having been arrogant in the first place. (Continued…)
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