I am writing in response to Josh Baylin's column "Religious Right in America -- Time to Leave." I agree that any person or group of people who seeks to systematically hold down another group of people in the name of religion can and should be compared to the Taliban. But I think that the premises he uses to single out these groups in American culture are flawed.
Let me be absolutely clear that I in no way support bombing abortion clinics in the name of "life," nor do I advocate the sort of backwoods bigotry Baylin seems to equate with all Christians. But I do support honest pursuit of truth. Though I think that the "religious right" has been guilty countless times of that bigotry Baylin notes, it is tragically flawed and equally bigoted to force fundamentalists to leave. It is tossing the baby out with the bath water to say that because one fanatic bombs an abortion clinic that all pro-lifers are fanatics.
To get rid of all the bad things that people have done in the name of Christianity throughout history would be great. Unfortunately, you would also have to eliminate 90 percent of the hospitals countrywide, almost every university (including this one), countless orphanages, soup kitchens, the International Red Cross (founded in part by Henry Dunant -- who was quoted late in life as saying "I am a disciple of Christ" not exactly a Darwinist), and even the YMCA and YWCA. So yes, let's get rid of intolerance. Let's crush an ideology that idealizes a self-righteous Christian subculture (of which I am a part). But let's not forget that Christians, no matter how radical, are still citizens. To force us out in the name of "tolerance" seems a little awkward. Incidentally, the meaning of the word "university" should lend a bit more direction to our pursuit. "Uni," -- one; "versity" -- truth.
Ben Meredith
Senior
Religious Studies
