Anger as Oxford college bans Christian group from freshers' fair - Sensationalist Headlines

[quote]A University of Oxford college banned Christian Union representatives from attending its freshers’ fair over concerns at the “potential for harm to freshers”. Balliol Christian Union (CU) was told the college’s student body, the JCR, wanted the freshers’ fair to be a “secular space”, according to Oxford’s student newspaper Cherwell. Eventually the CU was told that a single multi-faith stall would be allowed to display leaflets, though no representatives would be allowed to staff it, according to leaked emails seen by the paper. Balliol CU boycotted this option. The decision has caused anger at Balliol, where a motion was reportedly passed unanimously accusing the JCR committee of “barring the participation of specific faith-based organisations” and describing the step as “a violation of free speech [and] a violation of religious freedom”. The motion prohibited the barring of official religious societies from future freshers’ fairs. In an email exchange, JCR vice-president Freddy Potts, on behalf of the JCR committee, reportedly told a CU representative: “We recognise the wonderful advantages in having CU representatives at the freshers’ fair, but are concerned that there is potential for harm to freshers who are already struggling to feel welcome in Oxford.”[/quote] [url]https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/oct/09/anger-as-oxford-college-bans-christian-group-from-freshers-fair[/url]

Probably an overreaction. But having the same kind of organizations at my school here, I would definitely understand how they could be overbearing and intimidating to incoming students, they are basically campus missionaries. I'd personally hate to be in that situation.

it's rather ironic considering that oxford began as a cathedral school and for the vast bulk of its history it primarily taught theology and clergymen

[QUOTE=Revenge282;52764876]Probably an overreaction. But having the same kind of organizations at my school here, I would definitely understand how they could be overbearing and intimidating to incoming students, they are basically campus missionaries. I'd personally hate to be in that situation.[/QUOTE] Most CUs here are pretty friendly and non-evangelical. Sounds like some idiots in the JCR took a good idea (having better multi-faith exposure) and ran it into the ground.

well that's some clear fucking bullshit

[QUOTE=some twats]A University of Oxford college banned Christian Union representatives from attending its freshers’ fair over concerns at the “potential for harm to freshers”.[/QUOTE] Go on then, what terrible harm will befall oxford if some cross wielding maniacs start handing out pamphlets?

[QUOTE=Trilby Harlow;52765822]Go on then, what terrible harm will befall oxford if some cross wielding maniacs start handing out pamphlets?[/QUOTE] They might try to retake the holy land.

I guess I can see where they are coming from. If their religious groups/clubs are anything like they are at my school. They won't take no for an answer and will follow you around and hound you to join.

Christian group at my uni showed up to the freshers fair heavily armed and went round gunning down nonbelievers so I can see where they are coming from

[QUOTE=MissingGlitch;52765859]I guess I can see where they are coming from. If their religious groups/clubs are anything like they are at my school. They won't take no for an answer and will follow you around and hound you to join.[/QUOTE] Last time some religious group annoyed me with shit I just told them I am an gaytheist.

I was in Edinburgh's CU. This is really really dumb - the CU just feeds students during exams for free and offers talks from outside speakers about Christianity. They want to convert people to Christianity but it's not forceful or extremist. If you get offended seeing them at a society fair then you're a snowflake who shouldn't have gone to College. It's not fair to new Christian students that would want to find a society like this to make friends and get involved in student life.

[QUOTE=Trilby Harlow;52765822]Go on then, what terrible harm will befall oxford if some cross wielding maniacs start handing out pamphlets?[/QUOTE] Indoctrinating young adults with intellectual dishonesty is pretty bad. We need less people believing in entities and stories on faith and more people accepting epistemology [editline]10th October 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=Thom12255;52766103]I was in Edinburgh's CU. This is really really dumb - the CU just feeds students during exams for free and offers talks from outside speakers about Christianity. They want to convert people to Christianity but it's not forceful or extremist. If you get offended seeing them at a society fair then you're a snowflake who shouldn't have gone to College. It's not fair to new Christian students that would want to find a society like this to make friends and get involved in student life.[/QUOTE] Wowe good thing Christianity is all about getting food during exams and there isn't any massively inaccurate worldview associated with them

[QUOTE=Tetracycline;52766232] Wowe good thing Christianity is all about getting food during exams and there isn't any massively inaccurate worldview associated with them[/QUOTE] What are you doing? [quote]the CU just feeds students during exams for free [B]and offers talks from outside speakers about Christianity[/B]. [B]They want to convert people to Christianity but it's not forceful or extremist[/B][/quote] You can think religion is silly and worthless but if you support this ban you're in the wrong. It is a violation of freedom of speech and ideas and it is aimmed at all relgious groups on the campus. Can you explain how a student group has the power to indocrinate all these innocent young adults on a college campus as you say? Can't people make up their own minds and choose to listen to who they want in an open discussion space? How would you feel if Religious student leaders started to ban atheist groups (which also exist at these colleges).

'Secular space' - that means that anyone should be able to attend/have a stall.. So long as the event itself isn't run by any specific religious group you'll have your secular space. Fucking diddums.

Pretty sure this is religious discrimination. Can't they get sued for that?

I remember thinking the CU at Liverpool University was a bit weird, but by the end of the final year I was best friends with one of them, he never shoved his religion down my throat, and they were a lovely bunch of guys at events, offering tea and shit.

Oxford University - fucking BALLIOL COLLEGE, of all places - one of the most important centres of divinity and theology for centuries - doesn't want Christians involved? Do they realise that most of their colleges are named after saints and religious people? Is that secular space?

[QUOTE=Thechuz1337;52766498]I remember thinking the CU at Liverpool University was a bit weird, but by the end of the final year I was best friends with one of them, he never shoved his religion down my throat, and they were a lovely bunch of guys at events, offering tea and shit.[/QUOTE] I was the CFO of the atheist/agnostic/anti-theist group at our uni, and we loved having joint events with the monumentally larger Christian group on campus; movie nights, debates, guest speakers were among the events.

[QUOTE=Tetracycline;52766232]Indoctrinating young adults with intellectual dishonesty is pretty bad. We need less people believing in entities and stories on faith and more people accepting epistemology [/QUOTE] Yeah, we wouldn't want anyone asserting an ideological hegemony on anyone else, now would we?

[QUOTE=MissingGlitch;52765859]I guess I can see where they are coming from. If their religious groups/clubs are anything like they are at my school. They won't take no for an answer and will follow you around and hound you to join.[/QUOTE] Same here. They won't take no for an answer, and will just sit down at random peoples table and start evangelising. Its borderline harassment imo, so if Oxford has a similar situation, I think this is justified

How about you ban the guys who walked around with signs screaming "GOD HATES FAGS, YOU WILL ALL BURN LIKE THE DEGENERATE SINNERS YOU ARE" like we've got at my University. We've got a nice Church who gives out hot cocoa and coffee to students for free most mornings, and they don't really preach, just ask if anyone wants to help them with volunteer efforts.