Banning Christian Union's
I was going to write a post about this but I noticed now that some other blogs have already beaten me to it. This is important to me as although I am not a member of the CU at my University, I have flirted with them a little and have seen that the teaching's are important for both spiritual and moral ideals for students to follow during their study and to be part of a group that shares their beliefs. The union there does not seem as strict as some of the union's mentioned in replies on Iain Dale's Blog.
Check out Cranmer's blog about Universities banning Christian Union's.
It appears that some Universities see Christian Union's as in breech of the Student Union rules and the PC worshipers who dislike the expression of their beliefs and freedom of speech etc.
One pressure is, of course, coming from the Gay and Lesbian Society who may see the CU as full of bigotry, however the teachings of the Bible are important to Christians, like the Koran to Muslims.
But as Cranmer says "...the Gay & Lesbian Society, who, above most groups in society, ought to identify with the injustices of intolerance and bigotry".
My point of view (which may cause disagreements in the values of Multicultural Britain) is that this country is still a Christian country with a large Christian population and University students are mostly likely to be part of the elite class like politicians, doctors, historians (like me maybe) etc and members of the CU should be supported, not banned because their ideals offend some people.
Even though the Unions are not as mightly or powerful as the Church or the Monarchy, they are part of the Christian 'blanket' that covers our country and should not be seen as a strange religious sect and not having their meetings banned on campus and bank accounts frozen like foreign terror groups.
Emma Brewster, CU worker at Exeter University:
"This is a fundamental issue of freedom of speech and of common sense. Legal action is the last thing we want to take, and we certainly don’t relish it, but we are fully prepared to stand our ground for truth and freedom. We want to be able to study in a university that allows students – of all faiths and of none – to freely express their views from whatever stance they might take, be able to disagree with one another, and yet to co-exist alongside one another. Surely that is a truly democratic society?"
These views are my own and not co-written with any member of any Christian Union.
Check out Cranmer's blog about Universities banning Christian Union's.
It appears that some Universities see Christian Union's as in breech of the Student Union rules and the PC worshipers who dislike the expression of their beliefs and freedom of speech etc.
One pressure is, of course, coming from the Gay and Lesbian Society who may see the CU as full of bigotry, however the teachings of the Bible are important to Christians, like the Koran to Muslims.
But as Cranmer says "...the Gay & Lesbian Society, who, above most groups in society, ought to identify with the injustices of intolerance and bigotry".
My point of view (which may cause disagreements in the values of Multicultural Britain) is that this country is still a Christian country with a large Christian population and University students are mostly likely to be part of the elite class like politicians, doctors, historians (like me maybe) etc and members of the CU should be supported, not banned because their ideals offend some people.
Even though the Unions are not as mightly or powerful as the Church or the Monarchy, they are part of the Christian 'blanket' that covers our country and should not be seen as a strange religious sect and not having their meetings banned on campus and bank accounts frozen like foreign terror groups.
Emma Brewster, CU worker at Exeter University:
"This is a fundamental issue of freedom of speech and of common sense. Legal action is the last thing we want to take, and we certainly don’t relish it, but we are fully prepared to stand our ground for truth and freedom. We want to be able to study in a university that allows students – of all faiths and of none – to freely express their views from whatever stance they might take, be able to disagree with one another, and yet to co-exist alongside one another. Surely that is a truly democratic society?"
These views are my own and not co-written with any member of any Christian Union.
posted by David at 6:52 pm
8 Comments:
Hello,
It is somewhat ironic that Emma Brewster (who, incidentally, does not work for Exeter University) says "We want to be able to study in a university that allows students – of all faiths and of none – to freely express their views from whatever stance they might take, be able to disagree with one another, and yet to co-exist alongside one another."
The society she represents actively discriminates against Christians from non-evangelical backgrounds (Catholics, Orthodox, Quakers etc.) because it disagrees with them!
Hello 'a christian at Exeter university'
I have little knowledge of the workings of the CU at Exeter University, but I know that some CU'S want to change their name so they can add the word 'evangelical' which would make the groups more clear that they are C of E based.
I have also heard that Catholic groups do exist, but as evangelical and catholic teachings are different, would a muslim or catholic choose to join a Church of England group over their own religious groups?
I'm only aware of one SU banning a CU, and that's Birmingham, and that was because the CU there refused to amend its constitution to open access to any students wishing to join (the Islamic and Jewish as well as six Christian denominational socities, had agreed to do this). In Exeter, the SU has required that the CU change its name to Evangelical Chrisitian Union. This comes after a former member of the CU complained that he'd been ostracised because he refused to agree with a literal reading of the Bible. The CU has refused to accept the change and so has been suspended. In Edinburgh, the CU has been denied access to preach a course on "curing" homosexuality on University or SU premises. Most of the opposition here came from gay Chrisitians who were being excluded from the CU. Student Unions are taking these actions because CUs, of elites within CUs, are discriminating against certain Chrisitians (gay, non-evangelical, etc.) and refuse to accept the rules that all SU-affiliated societies and groups are required to abide by at the relevant SU.
The Christian Union is the unity of all Christians, proclaiming that Jesus alone is Lord and Saviour - all covered in the UCCF Doctrinal bases. Although Catholics and protestants have different views (esp regrading transubstantiation) at surrey Uni we are very welcoming!! The protestants are made up of the chrasmatic, evangelical, reformed, arminian, calvanists etc None are excluded - inc catholics, quakers etc however I am not so sure whether catholics, quakers etc would actually want to join our meeting on a regular basis due to conflicts in their theology (which is understandable), however we have had some catholics in our group - which is cool!!!
No CU should discrimnate against anyone...but we are allowed to disagree on bible based, theological issues.
Hello,
You ask "I have also heard that Catholic groups do exist, but as evangelical and catholic teachings are different, would a muslim or catholic choose to join a Church of England group over their own religious groups?"
The answer is no, they probably would not, but a Catholic may want to join a Christian group since Catholics are, contrary to what members of the ECU at Exeter have said, Christians.
The name change is simply intended to allow new students the opportunity to make an informed choice as to which Christian society would best suit them rather going to the Evangelical society by default.
"Catholics are, contrary to what members of the ECU at Exeter have said, Christians."
mmm Thats debatable, esp in light of the reformation.
Could you elaborate a bit on the reformation Cat, as it may be a good historical reference for the argument on the recent problems of the CU or ECU.
One problem seems to be the rise of red tape, political reasons and human rights....
Blessings.
+Cranmer
Post a Comment
<< Home