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Every Christian who wishes to be sincere about his or her faith has a lot of questions to resolve. We at the University of York are fortunate in having an organ such as Christis. The pages of this magazine, since its conception some seven years ago, have seen many attempts by Christians and non-Christians alike to face some of the questions Christianity poses in a spirit of open and honest debate. In general, we do not write the articles and features within the magazine ourselves as a society (only if we need to fill up space!). What we print are the thoughts and opinions of anyone at the university, who wishes to discuss an issue related to Christianity — its theology, its practice, its implications. If you disagree with any of the sentiments raised in any of the articles — write to Christis and say so! Don’t dismiss the magazine as the work of crackpots or zealots — Christis itself upholds no theology over any other. But it is as good a place as any for people with differing opinions to discuss them.
Please try and use Christis. Read and enjoy it. Be interested and stimulated by it. Be angered or dismayed by it. Maybe even send us an article or letter, or perhaps even join us! We’ve had great success in the past few years, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t continue, providing we get the interest and support from people out there. If you are interested in joining us, don’t feel you have to be a great writer, or that you have to be some sort of computer whizz-kid. Especially don’t think that you have to be a great Christian (or — hey — even a Christian at all!). All we require from you is an interest in pursuing our aims, and maybe a sense of humour. Have a read, and have a good Week 0. We look forward to seeing you at Freshers’ Fair.
A good friend of mine, who has now graduated from York, once said to me that University life is like eighty years in three “… a progression from wide-eyed, expectant Fresherhood, to gradually growing up” as the place becomes familiar, and it is possible to understand something of what it’s all about — where we fit in, what we can do — until at last it’s time to leave, the experience as complete as it’s going to be. Looking at it like this, for me at least, makes the whole thing seem so much more crucial; not just three years entrenched in a degree and all the other baggage — leaky student houses, Campus Fayre chips — that comes with it. Instead, the potential of a whole mini-lifetime, to be filled with a million potential experiences.
In terms of space as well as time, campus is pretty much a microcosm, with its own student politics, student concerns, student culture and social life, student media, arts, sport — a little world that contains opportunities and hassles enough for everyone. It is said that there is a sign above the University gates stating — either cynically or encouragingly — that ‘Reality Stops Here’. Inside the gates, plenty of activity of a political and social kind, but without the responsibility and consequences of such in the ‘real world’, and probably with a great deal more idealism. Whether this be true or not, there is still a world inside, and in its own context at least, what happens there matters.
What does all of this mean to a Christian? Where does being a Christian fit, in such an environment? Is it different for a Christian than for anyone else? University life, defined as above, is there to be connected with and enjoyed; a time for taking the opportunities offered and getting involved. For Christians though, I suppose it is a case of living out their faith too — but that can be such a twee expression; maybe each person reading this needs to find out exactly what it means to them, in this specific University context. I will leave you to ponder, and to explore what relevance and significance an ‘eighty year’ sentence at York might have, for those who are willing to acknowledge its possibilities.
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Last modified: 25th November 2005
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