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Christis magazine has been a variety of things over its chequered ten-year history: at times it has been a fairly academic theological review, at other times it has carried reports of the goings on of the various religious societies on campus. At one time it contained so many cartoons it read like a comic. All issues are online at http://www.christis.org.uk/archive/. We are attempting to relaunch the magazine over this term and the next term, moving it in a fairly different direction.
Religion is one of the most interesting characteristics of humanity, and in its manifest variety of forms, one of the essential influences on our world today. And at the University of York, people talk about religion, or about the issues to which it connects (which is just about everything) far more than any of the religious societies would care to admit. Since arriving in the hallowed grey concrete last October I have observed — in the bars, the midnight kitchens — that the famous old three: sex, politics and religion, are amongst the most discussed topics here. And the other topics — who got off with who in Ziggy's last night - simply don't deserve a magazine.
So York University has its huge Christian Union, its MethAng, Cassoc, its Jewish Society, Islamic Society, and, though they're hard to trace, its Indian and Pagan Societies. Moreover, it has thousands of students who chose not to identify themselves with any of these groups, though as philosophers, linguists, psychologists, historians or whatever else, they are well-aware of the significance of our pluralistically religious society. Christis Magazine might — if people will contribute to it - become a forum for open discussion of various disciplines, from a wide variety of religious angles.
This issue includes political debate, biblical commentary, some theories about the historical Jesus and the Judaic roots of Christianity, an interactive feature on Section 28, together with a discussion of the theology of homosexuality, and original poetry by David Ashford. The co-president of the CU has written a seasonal piece on the resurrection, there's some controversial ideas about the Holy Spirit, and the outgoing President of the magazine takes a double page to explain why he hates himself. There's a review of American Beauty, two “thinker” features, and the creeds competition continues. We've played around with the layout — a big thank you to our friends from Point Shirley — and hope you like it. It's not quite how we want yet, but next issue we should be able to take things further.
We're currently in sponsorship discussions with several organisations. The relaunch continues next issue — following our AGM in week 9 — and we already have all sorts of articles lined up.
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Last modified: 25th November 2005
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