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Show 4 Thursday, April 21,2011 OPINION www.dailyutahchronicle.corn 1— CAMPUS DEBATE —1 Does SHIFT foster open secular dialogue? Headstrong debates must evolve first Morality is discussed without worry t the U, religious and non-religious students might as well occupy separate J ON planets. We might cohabit B ULLEN classrooms, but not as religious or irreligious, simply as students. There are many reasons Opinion Writer to dissolve this separation, and a group called Secu- equally shout, "Show me the lar Humanism, Inquiry and evidence of absence!" Theism, on the other hand, Freethought needs your help. "Our mission is to prois metaphysical hubris at its finest. The problem of evil vide the student body with a non-theistic group which ever haunts perfect-being provides intellectual, ethical theology, just as the moral and social needs," said Zach dilemma of trans-world deStevenson, SHIFT president. pravity plagues Hinduism. "As SHIFT, we disregard Moreover, once you base divine causation as holding your beliefs on speculation any explanatory value." about what is beyond the Apparently, these people human capacity to organize know something, and their sense data with reason, weekly meetings draw beyou're guessing at best, tween Jo and zo participants. projecting at worst—and Although there is also a U you can't win any debates. Student InterFaith Council, Holes have been shot in both that group aims for dialogue sides of the debate, and they among different faiths rather remain. One side says there's than between the faithful no God, and the other says and the faithless. there is, and neither group It's important that we has a way to prove what take advantage of SHIFT's they're arguing for. The denial of this is mere hubris conversation space, because the positions many of us strongly affirm can be woefully misrepresented. During one meeting I attended, a Calvinist was invited to present his beliefs. The meeting quickly devolved, with a SHIFT attendee shouting, "Show me the evidence!" at the Calvinist. This represents the non-theist point of view about as well as alQaeda represents Islam. Demanding evidence from the faithful makes the same mistake the famous atheist Richard Dawkins makes—if you stipulate that only physical things exist, of course it's all about evidence. But doing so begs the question—which means you don't even enter the discussion, no matter how loud you shout. "Atheism is accepting the obvious: God does not exist, and faith is a poor tool for discerning reality," said Gregory Clark, associate professor for the department of bioengineering and SHIFT faculty adviser But if you merely dismiss your interlocutors as unable to accept the obvious, you're not doing any work at all— and you're an embarrassment to non-theists. Analytically, atheists are in no better a position—with respect to knowledge—than theists. Atheists speak as though they've proven a negative. That's contrary to logic. Thus atheists have their own faith. And one might or some students, religion is a touchy subject—and those ALEX who don't affiliate OUITIOUIT with an institution might feel left out or at odds with religious principles. Secular Opinion Writer Humanism, Inquiry and Freethought, grew up and was allowed SHIFT, is a group at the U to express myself indepenthat represents the sect of dently, I chose to follow students with no faith in my own conviction and pronounce myself non-afa god or are struggling to live in our densely relifiliated with any religious doctrine. From my insider gious society. The group's message is to promote the and outsider perspectives values of atheism and of religious ideals, I feel challenge the role of there is something to be religion in today's said about the influence society, while offerreligion has on modern so• ing those unsure of ciety, in both the positive their faith a forum for and negative light. SHIFT discussion. has made an effort to anThroughout my life, nounce these effects. theology has played an As a student group, odd, but important, role. In SHIFT attempts to provide my youth, I was a member the necessary outlet for of The Church of Jesus those wishing to discuss Christ of Latter-day Saints, the merits of theology and and from my experiences its human counterpart. with the church, I learned "Our discussions usua lot about morality, life, ally center on some aspect death and humanity. As I of religion/theism and its A about knowledge. This looks to me like a classic false dilemma. Maybe we should be more honest about what we can and can't know—and that leaves agnosticism. It's the only way to be humble about the scope of what we can and can't know. Faith plays a large part of Utah politics, and the U is one of the few places where conversations between those of faith and those not can take place. Because laws created in deference to faith apply to the faithful and the faithless alike, we all have an interest in discussing what rules ought to apply to us all, and what rules ought to apply to the devout alone. The discussion between theism and nontheism needs your help, and SHIFT is the place give your input. But the way they are going about it does not live up to their aims. With the way things are, there's little promise of progress. SHIFT must evolve, or die. F letters@ chronicle.utah.edu WILLUS BRANHAM/The Daily Utah Chronicle Vote on who won this week L! **i•O L 44/ role in current events," said Jason Cooperrider, SHIFT's founder, treasurer and a doctoral student in neuroscience. "We occasionally have theist members attend our meetings. Our meetings are therefore best described as enlightened social gatherings." The group's primary theme of conversation is to contest the general misconception that those without faith are without morals and to condemn the judgement that comes upon those who don't follow the messages of theology. "Many student groups currently exist to cater to the personal religious beliefs of their members, yet no group currently offers to fulfill the social, intellectual, and ethical needs of non-theist or primarily humanist students," said Jon Bronson, webmaster for SHIFT and a doctoral student in computing. "We affirm that it is possible to be good without belief in God/gods." SHIFT has been crucial in the debate about morality. Utah has an overwhelming connotation of religion, and it's an assumption made by being a citizen of this state. While traveling abroad, I am often asked if I am LDS or if I have three wives. My point is not about the identity of Mormonism in Utah, but with more than 6o percent of the population affiliated with the theology, it's how it has evolved into the overriding religious institution in this state that breathes judgment. Let people believe in whatever they want. If people follow the natural moral codes of life, which don't require religion as an outline, then there should not be any judgment or division of religious thought. If I believe in a gigantic spaghetti monster in the sky but still don't steal from my neighbor, who's to tell me I am not a "good" person? I loved being a member of the LDS Church when I was younger, but I didn't care for the judgment that was passed onto those who didn't follow the word. Organizations such as SHIFT are essential in exposing this unsubstantiated stigma. letters@ chronicle.utah.edu www.dailyutahchronicle.com Cast your vote online at www.dailyutahchronicle.corn p oLi RESU LTS How many extra hours will you study for final's? Last week respondents voted on the poll: How excited are you for spring? AO 10-3O 9-12 Whigeth. The snow can burn and melt and drain away. I'm done with it. 49% (24) Don't lie: we're in April showers, we're waiting for May flowers. 37% (18) Snowbird promises to stay open as long as possible, let it fall! 12% (6) C) 13+ ( Total number of votes: 129 Where I'm from, we don't get over freezing. This heat wave is unbearable. 2%(1) |