‘other Press

 

 

by Cal Chambers

Is there a place for a
Christian organization for
students on the campus of a
secular college? Some would
probably respond with a
quick and energetic ‘no’. In
an age of science it doesn’t
seem quite right that any
emphasis should be placed

upon religion and belief, ©

except as a hang over from

an age long gone. These
things may have been need.
ed by man in the middle and
dark ages when he was
overwhelmed by his envir-
onment, but now that we
have at our disposal the
scientific knowledge to cope
with our problems suc

things as religion, God and
faith, seem totally irrelevant.

This could be the attitude
of some here on this campus,
but such a view, in my
opinion, is the by-product of
ignorance based on a lack of
investigation. The actual
facts are that the religious
vitality of the 20th century is
increasing despite the scien-

tific frame of mind which is
‘common to all. The idea that

religion is part of a:prescien-
tific world view which will
ultimately fade away with
sophistication and the: facts
of scientific knowledge, is no
longer taken seriously by
those who know the actual

scene. Even behind the Iron
Curtain in countries strongly
influenced by Marxism,
there has been a remarkable
imcrease in young people
identifying themselves with
the cause of Christ.

The Christian faith is an
historical faith, and is not
rooted in religious ideas, but
in concrete facts which sur-
round the personality of Je-
sus Christ. A person may

' choose to ignore religion in

general,e. or denominational
churches in particular, but
‘can an intelligent person,
taking his life and cceentiog

eriously, ignore the impact
which Christ is making upon
the lives of people in our
day? Such former agnostics
as C.S. Lewis of Cambridge,
Malcolm Muggridge of the
Manchester Guardian, El-
dridge Cleaver, the social

revolutionist, Chuck Colson,
the ex-hatchet man for Nix-
on, testify that it has been
the personality of Jesus

than wit

of takin

Christ which has totally re-
volutionized their way of
living and thinking. Any
honest seeker. after truth
should be prompted to ask,

. Why?

Furthermore, the idea that
science and religion are mu-
tually exclusive is a concept
more in keeping with 19th
century Pig eect

the 20th century

es to these two areas
of life. The fact that many
scientists are now Christians
indicates that modern man
no longer needs to choose
between faith in science and

faith in God.

Why do people find it
difficult to take the religious

understanding of life ser-

iously? In our western soc-
iety it may be that many have

had an inadequate exposure |
to the Christian
through the Church, probab-

truth.

ly in their childhood and
adolescence, and this makes
them rule out the possibility
a fresh look at it in
their adult life. This doesn’t
rule out however, the fact

that millions of people would -

like to. believe in God if the
supposed intellectual prob-
lems didn’t seem too insuper
-able. To solve this problem
Or intellectual scepticism a
person would have to take
the risk of ‘reviewing the
situation.’ It appears that
many people in our ae
are afraid to take a good loo
at Christianity for the same
reason expressed by Gami-
leil Bradford; he once stated
he had ‘‘never read the New
Testament for fear of chan-
ging some of his long held
views.”’ ;

The Varsity christian Fel-
lowship exists on the Doug-
las Campus for two reasons.

One, to provide Christian
students with a place where

they can grow together in

their faith as they —
their particular intellectual
discipline. To help students
realize that education and
the spiritual life can be
cultivated in harmonious re-
lationship with one another.
But the group also exists for
another reason. To share the
Faith with others_is a princi-
ple of Christian action which
dates back to the beginnings
of the Christian movement.
The reality of Christ is so
exciting and life transform-

t

October 16, 1981

Christianity at —
ollege —

ing, that vital Christians find
it hard to keep it to themsel-
ves. It is a foregone conclu-
sion, that no one likes to
have religion forced upon
them by some fanatical per-
son. For that reason the
V.C.F. is low key in its
presentation and believes
that everyone should take a
look at the Christian faith
without being pressured.

We feel that as a Campus
Club we are making it pos-
sible for fellow students to
examine the credentials of
the Christian faith by enter-
ing into creative dialogue
with those for whom this

understanding of life is ex- :

tremely meaningful. We
welcome interchange of
thought with those who do
not hold our beliefs. We are

not afraid of you...we hope:
you are not afraid of us.

One of the ways in which
we would like to encourage
this dialogue this semester,
is in the presentation of a
series of superb films pre-

ared by Dr. Francis Shaef-

er of L‘Abri Switzerland.

This learned philosopher, art
historian, and Christian
theologian, has prepared a
series of 10 films in which he
traces the history of western
culture from Roman times to
our present Atomic age.

In these films he presents
some of the facts of history in
which the Christian faith has
been closely associated. He
asks pertinent questions
about the meaning of life in
the light of the Christian
claim; that truth is available

- and that scepticism in this

age of despair, can be over-

come by a knowledge of that
Truth. ;

V.C.F. feels at home in the

academic scene, because we :

believe that the Christian
.aith, and life on this cam-
pus, as seekers after truth,
are not incompatible. We
invite our fellow students to
investigate with us the pos-
sibility of a faith which is
authentic, and which has the
ower to affect life to the
ull.

 

 

 

 

What do you think of Douglas College
Pub nights and what do think could be

done to improve them?

Sue Armstrong;It’s pretty

good...could have used

more dancing room, They

made me stand outside for

half an hour...it’s cold out
there !’

/

Linda Lamont;I had a good ©

time...more space.

pinions must be types at :

 

Sutherland: Well, I

Mike
had a good time...I REALY
had a good time. Could have

used more dancing room.

  
 

Kary Kainth; Keep the live

entertainment, the last pub

night was pretty good.

nce and opinio

t necessarily re

a 60-strol

beet the name of the
nissions

 

 

 

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