 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Summer is, as ‘they’ say, upon us. But we at Christis turn a blind eye to the glorious sunshine outside (and wasps, and aphids and the harmful UV rays! — Ed). We laugh to scorn the very idea of exam revision. We dismiss with a hand the notion of a social life. And all to bring to you this, the finest example of Christian discussion magazine to be found anywhere on campus! This issue we bear in mind the fact that the advancing summer means that, for a significant number of us, the days of eating Campus Fayre, avoiding flocks of over-aggressive geese and of picking up the new Christis from Porter’s Lodges are just about over. Graduation day looms large. And then — what? This next step is probably still a grey area for many final year students, not to mention those of us for whom graduation seems a long way off. And yet, says , we Christians must be asking ourselves what we wish our future roles in society to be. Do we simply accept, unquestioningly, the norms of the society we live in? Or should we be looking a little bit more carefully?
* * * *
Over the Easter vacation, several students from the university paid a visit to the island of Iona, in Scotland. As reports, this famous spiritual home — so rich in history and tradition — has much to teach those of us who seek to live a radical and relevant Christianity today, both in terms of its past, and of the work being carried on there to this day.
* * * *
“The times they are a-changin’” observed Bob Dylan, back in the sixties. Since those tumultuous days much has happened that has thrown previous near-certainties in society into doubt. The church hasn’t escaped being touched by new ways of thinking, creeping out of the realm of academia into public consciousness. The modern rise of ‘liberal theology’ bears testimony to this: the rejection of absolute notions about God and Truth, in favour of a more subjective understanding of faith and religion. In this issue looks at some of the assumptions behind liberalism in theology, and asks whether or not it is a viable stand point to take.
Do you know what it is like to be constantly joked about? Laughed at? The subject of abuse? The recipient of a hate campaign? I have friends who are constantly subjected to the above. Why? What have they done? The answer is quite simple — Nothing! Apart from fall in love, and admit to something which they feel very strongly and have little (or no) control over. They are homosexual or bisexual.
Many ‘Christian’ views on this matter tend to be at best mis-informed and at worst fuelled by a hatred and a prejudice comparable to fascism. The Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual officers at the York Student Union are setting up a group in order to address the causes and symptoms of such prejudice. Perhaps it is time that we stopped brushing this sensitive issue under the carpet, perhaps it is time to look at the logs in our own eyes rather than the specks in the eyes of others …
* * * *
Advance notice! After the summer vacation, Christis intends to put in a new order for T-shirts and sweatshirts. The design will be the same as before (the original Christis logo, with the ‘near death’ cartoon on the reverse). We estimate the cost to be £7 for a T-shirt and £14 for a sweatshirt. Details of design, sizes and colours will be in the next issue (mid-October), but this is advance warning for those of you who will not be on campus next year, so that you can get your order in quick. OK?
|
|
|
|
|
Last modified: 25th November 2005
Contents 