I am appalled by Brian McLoone's Oct. 5 Viewpoint, "Stop the collection plate, Tufts." It does not lead one to question the genius of its author, but rather the presence of a competent mind.
Within the poorly written and largely ignorant text, McLoone asserts that a "basically moderate Christian" could be likened to a seemingly delusional man fearful of being buried in a pit by an omnipresent stalker. Furthermore, he arrogantly notes that "delusional beliefs like these are not simply accepted at Tufts; in many cases, the university directly facilitates and funds them."
Since its inception, Tufts has prided itself on the premises of tolerance, equality and diversity of a student population. The very principle of attending university is not to promote a sterile and secular society (as you, McLoone, may claim), for it is a widely accepted tenet that personal growth is the result of accumulated knowledge and, for those in a collegiate setting, the holistic experiences inside and outside the classroom.
Tufts's own personal mission statement [available on the Tufts.edu Web site's profile of the university] echoes that sentiment: "We will strive to contribute to global intellectual capital, harmony and well-being." Even greater proof of Tufts' advocacy for religious tolerance and acceptance is the preceding clause: "We value a diverse community of women and men of different races, religions, geographic origins, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, personal characteristics and interests - where differences are understood and respected."
Clearly, Brian McLoone has never read this, or he would not have proposed a tighter school budget. (Had he done his research, he would have realized that the $4,000 dollars allocated to each of the four financed religious groups is pennies compared to the amount given to secular/non-religious groups on campus). [Editor's note: The Daily's research revealed that the TCU Senate includes eight religious student groups in its budget. Each of these groups receives a different monetary allocation, ranging from $258.75 to $45,681.55.]
Now that we have debunked the first of his many assumptions, let us move to the next: his wildly inaccurate concept of "right" or "wrong" in terms of religion. Regardless of one's religious background or experience, the participation and belief in an organized religion does not include the belief that you are, in fact, "right."
For myself, being a Roman Catholic and member of the Catholic Community at Tufts (CCT) does not mean I throw Bibles at my non-Catholic or non-Christian friends, nor do I exert my own personal beliefs upon anyone. I respect the individual's choice to subscribe to his or her own unique set of beliefs and convictions. I do not presume to know all the answers, nor do I assert that members of any other religious group are going to a fiery pit of condemnation, with the thought that their previous sins or transgressions will lead to an eternity of wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Something that one must remember is that the Catholic Church is founded also upon the concept of faith: It is faith that provides comfort in hardship, strength through ordeals and persistence in times of difficulty. Arguably, some of the most beautiful and poignant things in life are not seen, but felt, and the greatest moments in life hold an almost intangible air to them. We as man cannot possibly esteem ourselves in such a high state as to lay claim that we know the idiosyncrasies of the universe. We thus cannot believe in the concept of "nothing seen is nothing proved."
So the lofty question posed by McLoone ("Why, then, are the equally unsubstantiated claims of religious groups not only listened to, but celebrated and funded as well?") bears no relevance whatsoever. They are celebrated for their passion and conviction in a particular belief, and they are funded because Tufts University recognizes their important presence on our campus, as well as within the community. Despite your disdain for religion and all things religious, Brian McLoone, your condescending manner and inflammatory remarks do not take away the principle of community: the idea that a group of persons may exist and function and grow while maintaining shared beliefs as well as differences.
