Until recently, if you wanted to become a member of Exeter University's Christian Union you had to self-define as Christian. The group is now taking the Guild (the Student Union) to court after it was decided by an independent body that non-Christians could become members.
Having read several newspaper articles about the matter, and found no reasonable argument as to why only those of the Christian faith should be allowed membership, I can only conclude that the Christian Union is behaving in an absurd and unjustifiable way.
Aside from the fact that the ECU (which, incidentally, has been forced to change its name to the Evangelical Christian Union) is explicitly breaking the rules and regulations of the Guild -
"it shall be an offence for any society ... to discriminate in any way against an individual or group of individuals based on their gender, ethnic origin, disabilities, sexuality, beliefs (including political and religious beliefs), physical appearance, or other personal attributes" -
if the ECU's principle of excluding those with alternative or non-defined viewpoints is applied to all societies, does this mean that Student Unions should exclude non-gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from their LGBT societies? What about people who decide they don't want to attach a label or definition to their preferences? What about individuals unsure about their religion or sexuality, who are perhaps hoping to find reassurance, comfort and clarification by associating with a group of people who have supposedly similar motivations? Should the Lib Dem Society deny anyone without Party membership access to meetings, thus eliminating any possibility of debate or varied discussion? Should the French Society grant membership only to those in possession of a carte d'identité?
For me (despite being an Atheist), the essence of religion and of Christianity in particular, is charity to all, regardless of faith, gender, ethnic origin etc. For this reason and because there are so many different branches and sets of beliefs within the Christian faith itself, it seems anti-religious, not to mention fruitless, to try to separate Christians from non-Christians. Things just aren't as black and white as that.
Wars motivated by religion have been fought for centuries. However, in today's climate, where technology, warfare and the media are all far more sophisticated and therefore more destructive than they have ever been before, it is imperative that instead of engaging in constant battles against one another, different religions, ethnic groups and nationalities try to co-operate with one another so that we can all live in a safe, peaceful world. And that also applies to societies and groups on the smallest scale, like student societies.
Aside from all that, the Exeter ECU probably didn't need to be so cautious as to specify being Christian as an entry requirement. If you weren't Christian, you probably wouldn't want to go anyway.
Sources:
http://www.blogger.com/www.guardian.co.uk
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2136297,00.html
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5 comments:
The issue at Exeter can be seen to be even more ludicrous when the opening line of your account is examined:
"Until recently, if you wanted to become a member of Exeter University's Christian Union you had to self-define as Christian."
The reason the Students' Union took action in the first place was because the Christian Union was turning away students who self identify as Christians. Many Christian Students are barred from membership of the Christian Union!
I wonder, if every member or committee member is required to hold a set of specific and identical beliefs, what on earth the point of the ECU is. Do they just sit round in meetings agreeing with each other all day?
"Do they just sit round in meetings agreeing with each other all day?"
That and bullying vulnerable freshers into denouncing the beliefs they have grown up with and accepting the official line of the society (often leaving them with deep mental scars in the process), yes.
How are they going to check people's religion anyway? Litmus paper?
"How are they going to check people's religion anyway? Litmus paper?"
By making you sign a piece of paper stating that you hold a specific list of beliefs, a list which excludes the beliefs of over 80% of Christians.
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