www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News A shocking,true story from Georgetown University

Anti-Christianity: The Accepted Form of Bigotry

By Peter Reynolds

In the first class of the semester, a Georgetown professor called the crucifixes that hang upon the walls in every classroom �weaknesses that look down upon us�. He said this during class, before all his students. No one said a word to him, not even after class. All were silent as Christ was mocked and Christianity denigrated....

To read the rest of this editorial, go to:

www.orthodoxnews.com [orthodoxnews.com]

Scroll down to: 'Editorials and Opinions'. Peter's editorial is the first one.

Why is this shocking???

Dear Mike,

I am sorry, I don't get the angle of your question to me.

I find it shocking because this is a Jesuit run Roman Catholic Institution of the highest caliber. Why do they allow these professors to take such positions?

Is there no Roman Catholic institution that is loyal to its foundation and to Christian tenets anymore?

In Christ,
Alice

Hard to say from the little vignette just what the Professor had in mind. But the Professor was certainly very effective in planting a seed in Mr. Reynolds's head. Apart from the rank growth of vicitmization, that seed did bear some quality fruit: the understanding that while this undeniable weakness is a scandal to those who are perishing, it is, to those who are being saved the very strength of God, Almighty - whose weakness is more powerful than our greatest feats.

Dear Alice,

I never did take much stock in the pretensiousness of professors, doctors, lawyers or Indian chiefs............ except for maybe a few who post here.

Bill

Dear DJS,

I understood from the article, that the professor perceived our need to believe in God, as being 'our' weakness.

Zenovia

The article gives us very little information to know the context of the discussion. We do not know in what class this took place in, nor even which professor supposedly said this.

I could write an article about how St Paul said Christ crucified is foolishness! He indeed said this, but look at the context and this foolishness is also wisdom. The professor could have been working on a similar paradox. If there was a professor who said this, that is. We have no names or dates.

Which is why another possibility is that no such event happened. With no information as to what class, what professor, and when this actually happened, no indication that this is a true story. It could be an example of how urban legends start... It's easy to accuse when you make it vague. With no professor listed, makes it more difficult to refute the story -- if you list a professor, then if what you are saying is not true, easy to refute.

We need to be careful and critical of what we read. If an article does not provide us the necessary information we need to contextualize odd statements, we must realize their might be other agendas going on -- not by the one being reported on, but by the one who is doing the reporting. What reason was this article written? Could it be sour grapes for some reason? What reason do we have for not knowing why the professor said this? Could it be a class on scripture, where the professor was quoting St Paul and explicating its meaning? Indeed, to the Romans, the crucifixion WAS a weakness (hence foolishness!) It is part of the paradox which is the passion.

Henry,

If you go to the link, you will see that this is a person of faith who is expressing himself in a religious context. He was hurt for Christ and shocked at this comment. I have also written editorials in Orthodox publications at times throughout my life. What was MY 'hidden' agenda?...a love for Christ, lamenting apostasy around me, inspiring people with words of faith, etc.

Surely, there are some political animals that write for religious publications that do have agendas. A little humility and discernment from the Holy Spirit will usually help one differentiate those of unscrupulous intent from those with sincere hearts, as the focus of the unscrupulous one with a hidden 'agenda' is usually not Christocentric, and the twists and innuendos thus become obvious.

I got the editorial from an Orthodox News Service, which means the author submitted it to them. I don't think that the Professors of Georgetown read an obscure website about Orthodox news in this country. Peter's words are beautiful, *HUMBLE* and spiritually inspiring. How about concentrating on that instead of picking it apart. I have had e-mails from folks in the know who say that the Jesuits are indeed in need of renewal.

If I were to tell you that I went to an Orthodox parochial school as a little girl, and we once had a new teacher that told us all that he was an atheist, would I also have an 'agenda'...it happened. If I were to tell you that my daughter went to a RC high school where the religion teacher told them not to take the new testament literally, would that also be having an 'agenda'. Does Francisco also have an 'agenda' by posting the terrible news about the church of Greece? OR is it that by exposing what is anomalous, we hope to make it better?

Forgive me for saying this Henry, but I cannot understand the suspicion, and the cynicism of some of your posts. REALLY!!!!

In Christ our Lord,
Alice

Alice,

In all respect I don't think we can conclude that there is NO Roman Catholic institution that is loyal to its foundation and to Chrisitian tenets anymore? from this one example. Do we know whether this professor was a Jesuit? Do we know whether this professor was Catholic? I will grant you the Jesuit univesities do have people of various backgrounds on their faculties. If this was a statement against Christianity and Christ then attention should be paid to the incident. Do we know that hasn't happened?


In Christ,


Mary Jo

Send all your kids to the University of Steubenville, Ohio

I am not familiar with Georgetown, although I have heard some of the same rumors that are being posted here. Would it be safe to say that the same secularism that has affected society is also present in the universities? I think it would. Universities can be a bit self-absorbed and self-centered, and my experience with them is that some faculty members are quite taken with themselves. You will find this everywhere, not just at Georgetown. What happens at Catholic schools seems to be more a matter of who is actually in charge and how they manage a particular school. It seems to me that the religious orders and associations that are more divided in outlook, and more internally chaotic at this time, are the ones with more problems in their schools. That's just opinion, since I am sure there are exceptions.

Myles,

AMEN to Steubenville. Were my kids of college age I would if I could. Maybe the grand kids eventually.

Mary Jo

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

I have to agree, that the article was bad journalism. It shows cowardice to not name the professor, have a full quote, and the class that this was posted in. If you look at the basic questions of journalism almost none where answered.

Who- Don't Know,
What- Don't Know Full Context,
When- Don't Know,
Where- Georgetown,
Why- Don't Know.

Further, if the professor is tenured, then no action can be brought against him. The only exception would be if he was Catholic Theologian.

Poosh BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

This isn't quite true. Complaints can be made. If the complaint were meritorious, then professor could be disciplined in many ways (teaching load, class hours, salary) by head/dean. A tenured professor who persistently engages in a pattern of behavior against the proper dictates of head/dean can be fired for insubordination.

I say Benedictine College, Myles...