What’s my secret?
There is a blue tent in front of the EMU this week, with a sign asking “What’s your secret?” Onlookers are encouraged to step behind the curtain and anonymously write their secret on piece of paper, which is then posted on a board for all to see. If you engage one of the attendants in conversation, you will probably be invited to a Thursday evening event entitled “No More Secrets.”
This event is sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. ICF’s self-declared mission is “To establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord … ” In summary, it is an evangelical organization. At our institution, ICF is “committed to bringing the Kingdom of God to the University of Oregon.”
As a supporter of free speech, I believe every person in this country has the right to state what he or she believes and ask people to believe the same. What I consider the unethical or deceptive part of the promotion is the minimization or total lack of the event’s purpose in the promotional material.
There are many ways to stop feeling shame, should one wish to do so. There are many ways to find hope after tragedy. ICF has a mission, and like all corporations, its activities are focused on the core principles of that mission. Corporations capitalize on any event or issue that will further themselves. Simply stated, ICF wants you to adhere to the same version of Christianity that it does.
College campuses are fertile recruiting areas for spiritual practices. Young people have recently left the safety of their homes and have started questioning the beliefs and traditions they were raised with. We strive to make new friends and find communities of people where we fit in. We see a world on fire, filled with wars, drugs and hate. These uncertainties may lead us to feel like there are holes in our lives. Religious recruiters promote their belief as the one that can fill that hole and provide the answer, providing certainty in uncertain times. Religion can provide community, warmth and a sense of belonging. They also know that you will not come unless there is something to draw you in, such as free food or references to traumatic or tragic events or emotions.
If you had heard about this event and were planning to attend in the hope of finding inspiration in troubling times, please don’t let me dissuade you. If you had not heard about this event prior to this letter, I suppose ICF should thank me for helping to publicize it. Just know that once you enter, I believe an attempt will be made to manipulate you both emotionally and psychologically. The only goal – the only purpose – is for you to become a member of their religion.
ICF representatives are in front of the EMU promoting their event; ask them why they are doing this. I challenge them to tell you the whole truth. Isn’t that what representatives of deities are supposed to do?
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