According to Monday’s Lantern, Real Life OSU conducted a survey of students’ faiths on campus. Real Life members are alarmed that students do not want to discuss religion or spirituality. Staff at Real Life who consider themselves “spiritual resources” hope to encourage people to talk about religion.
However, I think that the main reason people don’t wish to discuss religion is because it is nobody’s damn business.
Just like your relationship status, your sexuality or even your weight, religion is a personal issue. I’ve always thought that religion and spirituality were about one’s personal relationship with God. It’s something that everyone has to work out on their own at some point or another.
I have personal experience in this. When I was a freshman I joined one of the youth groups on campus, just to check it out. I was around for a couple of months. I was encouraged by my roommate at the time, and I thought it would be a good way to make some friends and learn about myself.
It was OK at first. I felt uncomfortable most of the time because people were asking me what seemed like personal questions, and complete strangers were praying for me. But I gave it a chance because everyone was really nice.
My feelings changed when one day, while at one of the Thursday sessions, I overheard people in the group talking about how they purposely try to talk about God out loud when they’re in public so they can be good examples of Christians for other people. I laughed, but not really in a nice way. The logic of these self-appointed spiritual guides resonated so poorly with me that I never returned to the group.
See, as religion is a personal issue, I don’t understand how anyone can appoint themselves as a Christian role model, or make it their business to tell other people how to be Christians. In fact, how can an individual claim to be a spiritual resource? Isn’t that a bit conceited?
It’s annoying. How many students have been interrupted while hanging out on the Oval by people from organizations who want to talk about God with them or “educate” them about God? It has happened to me a couple times, usually when I’m reading or having some good “me time” on the Oval.
I think religious discussion is a good thing. I think churches and youth groups are great for people who need that community. For most, I think, being spiritual is very private and personal, so for people to claim that it’s their job to shepherd these people into discussions and groups is a breach of privacy.
