LETTER TO THE EDITOR: College life not a threat to maintaining faith

I felt that Mr. Kenneth Dyches’ article, “University life a challenge to faith,” conveyed a very disappointing message. College should be considered a wonderful opportunity to learn about what you believe, and this is fostered, not threatened, in a university environment where people with a spectrum of beliefs, cultures, and faiths, or lack thereof, all interact.

I was particularly frustrated to see secularism portrayed in a negative light. In what way does “secular society… waylay spiritual pursuit”? Not everyone chooses to participate in organized religions, including those of us who are secular humanists, atheists and agnostics. For an article promoting interfaith councils, the author was surprisingly ignorant of a significant portion of American population.

By the author’s own assertion, the amount of religiously unaffiliated young adults is on the rise, and according to the same 2010 PEW research study cited by Mr. Dyches, 16.1 percent of all Americans reported themselves as religiously unaffiliated.* That’s more than Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Mormons combined, [multiplied] by three. In fact, 1.6 percent of the population expressly described themselves as Atheists, which still outweighs the number of American Muslims by a factor of three.

I was curious to know at what point “exposure to new ideas and people” is a “heavy cross to bear.” We should celebrate learning new things, meeting new people and testing any beliefs we have. We should rejoice when we realize the truth, instead of sulking because we were previously incorrect.

When evidence presents itself, we need to create a theory to fit the evidence, not protect a theory regardless of the evidence in the world around us. College is perfect time to question beliefs! You will meet other people who have radically different beliefs, and you might find out that you agree with them! What an astounding, fabulous, and exciting opportunity to grow as a person!

If secular society is making it difficult for you to maintain faith, I invite you to reevaluate your beliefs. Why should FIU’s “open atmosphere and opportunities often clash with the religious beliefs of students’ and the academic agenda of a secular university”? In my opinion, a belief system should be compatible with your experience in the world.

I also found it interesting that the word “admitted” was used to describe someone who was saying God was. at first, not important to him. Is this some kind of crime? An “admission” that something is wrong? I don’t think so. Being a thinking individual who can believe in something because you have tested it, criticized it, and substantiated it, is an impressive achievement.

I have no qualms about admitting my bias; I am a proud Atheist, just as others are proud Christians, proud Wiccans, etc. If you end up in the Secular Humanist, Atheist, or Agnostic group, you are not alone, and it does not make you a bad person.

If you are floating somewhere in the ether between religions, I applaud you for having a strong enough character to take a critical look at your preexisting beliefs. If you examined your faith and continue to believe that you have been right all along, wonderful!

Whether you end up in an organized religion, none at all, or continue to question forever, questioning your beliefs is a valuable tool in developing as a person, not a burden to be scorned.

– Melissa Zwilling 

Third year graduate student, chemistry

*The cited PEW study can be found at http://religions.pewforum.org/affiliations.