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Student Article: Christian Recruiting: Amusing for Many, Harmful for SomeSubmitted by Lyz on Sat, 2007-10-20 05:04.
“Religion poisons everything,” asserts Christopher Hitchens in the title of his new book, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything  . It is easy to dismiss such sweeping statements, but after less than a month studying in America, specifically in George Mason Virginia, I strongly object to the techniques some Christian organizations use to recruit soldiers for Christ.As my ever-growing pile of Christian documents testifies, I don’t mind receiving leaflets. I consider it harmless and often amusing. Amongst my most prized possessions is a Jehovah’s Witnesses booklet which censures Darwin via quotes from acclaimed scientist Saint Paul. I also prize an anti-evolution leaflet from Christians on Campus with quotes from “zoologist Thomas Emmel” and “Princeton University Math Professor John Erik Forness,” both of whom believe in God. Other techniques are less amusing and more harmful. Being one of the many Catholics baptized before I could utter a word, I detest how Christians encourage people to join the bandwagon when they are at their weakest. On orientation day, I was friendless, confused and somewhat disoriented after a ten hour flight. Within minutes, I was offered a friend service where I would have someone help me settle in and teach me about Jesus. Later on, I was presented with a table full of free cookies, but my sheer delight was diluted as the cookie organization invited me to a church nearby. Having been brought up in the Catholic faith, I already know how soothing the idea of an all-loving God can be. It has been drilled into me since early childhood. I have firsthand knowledge of the glorification of faith and its impact on intellectual honesty. Thus, it was not particularly hard for me to say “Thanks for the cookies, sod off.” Yet, my roommate, who was from China, did not find resisting so easy. I was appalled to hear how my roommate was invited to a free dinner which turned into a church recruiting activity. He explained that he found it tremendously embarrassing to refuse an invite after a free dinner and a copy of the bible in Chinese. He only got out of it by claiming that he was too young to join a religious organization. My roommate's friend did not resist, and a few days later, he casually told me how he got baptized and what a kick he got out of the experience, since religion is repressed in China. Out of curiosity and admittedly, a mildly mischievous intent, I attended an activity by the Campus Crusade for Christ. Although I didn’t win the raffle, I enjoyed the event. The music was cheerful, the girls good-looking and atmosphere festive. Yet, I am still puzzled why anyone would want to use the word ‘crusade.’ Doesn’t it bring to mind certain wars sanctioned by the Pope in which millions of people died in the name of Jesus? I now look forward to the next wave of Christian activities to cheer me: leaflets, friends, cookies, raffles and music veiled under inappropriate titles. What about The Inquisition Campus Fest? Is anyone interested? Gustav Pace is studying Communication at George Mason University. He comes from the island of Malta, enjoys drinking tea and pretending to be an aristocrat. |
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