h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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As far as I was aware the situation was that the Christian Union receives money from the Student's Association, most of which is fundraised by the whole student body for the benefit of the whole student body. The Christian Union at Exeter University refuses to allow any non-Christian to use their facilities or join their little club! Therefore they are discriminating against non-Christians.

I wouldn't give them any money either!

But, and I take a deep breath here, if the Christian Union at UEA Norwich was any guide, you got people who were decent in themselves tying the charity inextricably into the message - ie, this soup comes with the blessing of Jesus Christ who is Lord - and the none-too-subtle hidden agenda wasn't so much easing hunger or want, as in making converts.

Rather than letting the giving speak for itself, as the Salvation Army or other mainstream Xians might.

"South Park" kind of took the p out of this by revisitunbg Starvin Marvin in Ethiopia - "No soup and bread for YOU, little boy, until you accept Jesus Christ as your lord and Saviour!" -

Where Americans are concerned, evangelical Christianity is used as a sort of cultural imperialism which the developing world is right to be very wary of - unfortunately the evangelicals I met at UEA, while genuinely nice and decent people, seemed happy to adopt the American religious message wholesale and not question the politics, like Blair tagging onto Bush's coat-tails.

So I can see why student unions find this a hard package to get on with.

thank you for the link phil. its great to hear their status has been reinstated.

the christian union exists in all universities run by christians for mission.

i wouldnt want a christian union run by non christians.

*decloaks*

Thanks for that Phil, it's nice to know they weren't *actually* being 'persecuted' for their religion, just being investigated because of their inability to allow non-Christians to join

*cloaks*

Yeah, there's a lot going on with CU's at the moment due to various things, mostly because they don't accept non-christians as members or let them hold office.

Me, personally, I don't feel persecuted. I am free to practise my religion in this country and I'm very thankful for that.

I agree with not letting non-Christians hold office in the CU, that would be rather silly (a bit like allowing a catholic to be president of a Pagan Society )

Not allowing non-Christians to join, and/or (as in this case, I believe) making them sign a declaration to the faith is merely saying 'we don't want your sort 'round 'ere' and, I would have thought, that would be the point of joining a society - to find out whether 'it fits'?

I was a member of the Islamic Society at uni, not because I was of that faith, I just wanted to find out more about it from the people who actually practised it!

the chirstian union encourages people to come to theit meetings and find out more but they cant become members. membership status is to allow the student union to know how many christians there is in the union. in my uni we even have to pay membership fees to the union

*student union

'members. membership status is to allow the student union to know how many christians there is in the union. in my uni we even have to pay membership fees to the union'

Don't you have to pay to join the SU anyway? I did when I was at Uni? It has to be said that the best religious groups are good to people in need without needing to use it as a platform, but merely because it is what they are taught they should do. For religion in general, the people all over the world selflessly doing good work in horrible areas of the world are a good refection, but those who can only give to the approved are, sadly, not such great pr.

we dont have to pay to join the su but we do have to pay to join any societies which benefit from su money.

the outreach events we do are open to everyone and in most cases th only reason people kno they are christian events is due to all fliers and posters etc saying it is run by the christian union

Nicky is the SU in question right in having an anti-discrimination policy that all member societies (and members it should be added) have to stick to?

>>exeter university have threatened to stop giving the CU there money if they dont stop doing out reach events. some of thses events include soup kitchens for homeless people, cafes for international students etc. the muslim society keep them selves to themselves anddont do anything to help the local people. they will continue to gte money. the student union which is stopping their mney are doing it so that they dont appear to just have a christian union.

the christians there are being persecuted forhelping others<<

*Decloaks* Such a lot to say and not much time to say it.

First of all, I'm a student at Exeter Uni right now (ignore what my PS says, I haven't updated it in ages) and have taken a keen interest in the issue with the ECU. At the heart of the matter is that the Evangelical Christian Union wanted to reclaim the old name of Christian Union. According to due process a debate and vote was held to see if this was to be allowed. The motion was defeated because the Evangelical Christian Union are a group of particularly distasteful, hate-filled people (this is personal experience, so not libel) who actively discriminate against gay people and have caught spreading homophobic publications. The old Christian Union was quite benign by all counts (it was before I moved here that they changed) and worked quite happily with the LGBT scoiety where aims overlapped or coincided, until it was taken over by evangelicals.

The Evangelical Christian Union is most certainly not like the old CU and the attempt to change the name was seen by many as grossly missleading advertising. The ECU was defeated but refused to acknowledge the defeat and started trying to book rooms and resources as the CU, and they were thrown out of the Student's Guild for breaking the rules - it had nothing to do with their particularly demented world-view in the end. Incidentally, Exeter University has done nothing at all, the Student's Guild has taken this action. The Student's Guild is run by students and paid for by students, in accordence with their wishes. People wanted the ECU to play by the rules or get banned and they got their wish. Who says democracy doesn't work?

Right I need to get to class, I'll be back later

>>Nicky is the SU in question right in having an anti-discrimination policy that all member societies (and members it should be added) have to stick to? <<

i honestly dnt know

Fascinating the difference between the report of one of our resident Christians in this thread : "the christians there are being persecuted forhelping others" : and the report of someone with access to the facts from the real world.

nicky, does this experience in any way make you think that perhaps you should consider looking for evidence in the real world for things? Or do you not mind looking foolish?

SoRB

http://www.guild.exeter.ac.uk/eucuup

according to their website the problem was about equal oppurtunities and them not allowing non christians to be committee members. its interesting what somebody from the university saw as the problem.

the information ive got about the issue is from a friend at exeter university who is a member of the ECU

Hmm. It's even more interesting that your information comes from an actual member of the ECU, and you took that information uncritically. Presumably it never occurred to you that someone so closely involved in the dispute might, possibly, not report the facts objectively?

SoRB

i was given the information to be praying for the christians there. there woiuld be no point in them getting me to pray for a situation as was reported to me.

the website link i juts gave you talks about the equal rights stuff.

i dont feel foolish by the way. i will continue looking for God for answers and guidance.

i will be relying on him more then ever over the next sixth months as i write a dissatation on the affect of carbon isoptopes on the almosphere and finish my degree in cell and molecular biology and chemistry. tough i have got a greater faith themore science i study.

So the Exeter dispute has been solved then after the ECU backed down? Or did I read that link wrong.

they have been given their privalegiesback but thr is t b iscussions over the next semester as to how the ECU will be run. nothing has been decided yet.

"This meeting was held after the instructions of the original GSA motion put forward by members of the student body were fulfilled."

Ahhh I evidently just mis-interpreted that passage.