A Student's Religion

A Dartmouth Christian Association Experiment

I WAS leisurely sauntering through the corridors of Middle Mass. last spring when I was suddenly attracted by several voices raised in loud argument. It was almost midnight so I turned toward the room from which the racket was emanating suspecting I might stumble into a bull session which might prove interesting.

As I opened the door and the haze of tobacco smoke lifted, I found six freshmen stretched out in various positions of ease on the floor and divans so wrapped up in their discussion that my entrance was unnoticed. After draping my legs over the arms of a spacious chair and propping my head up with a pillow, I settled back to enjoy a birdseye view of this battle of wits.

"But Prof. of the English department says that as far as he's concerned no God is necessary for him to enjoy life," I heard one clamoring voice state. Immediately he was met with a barrage of quotations from other men on the faculty to prove that for them at least God was essential.

The leaders of the Evolution department were marshalled and quoted as having stated that there was no battle between science and religion—in fact the more one advanced in science, the more he was faced with the necessity of having to put his faith in God.

"Well, I can't see how a man who is scientific can believe in any of that bunk. God must be just an explanation for ignorance."

"On the contrary Prof. of the Physics department says that God is dynamic and not a static force."

So the arguments run. Professors are quoted indiscriminately and often inaccurately as some student becomes enthusiastic and fights to prove his point. The result is not always a clear picture, but at least it has served the purpose of stimulating thought. At three o'clock as the arguments lost momentum and yawns of boredom crept around the circle, I suggested that these boys get together again with some faculty man to lead the discussion. They thought this was a great idea so I sent them to Charley Butler in the D.C.A. office knowing that he would organize the group and secure a good man for a leader.

TALKING IT OVER

This was the beginning of one of the numerous discussion groups on religious problems which the D.C.A. attempts to foster. The method of meeting which has been found most successful is that of taking a bunch of fellows who get together in a spontaneous, impromptu manner such as in the "bull session" to a cabin or some place removed from the interruptions of college routine where they can discuss their theories of religion with a man qualified to direct their thought.

This does not mean that they are necessarily led by a professional in the religious field for in many cases it has seemed better to provide professors in the sciences or in philosophy to take charge of the group. A great deal depends on the type of man the students want and the issue of the question which they are discussing.

"The Dartmouth" last year launched a series of editorials in which they stated that the average college student didn't "give a damn" about religion. They were indifferent to it and felt no need for it.

I would answer this by stating that it is not that they don't care about religion, but rather that through some process of development of attitudes the taboo of "it's not the thing to do publicly" has sprung up. Anything which in any way smacks of emotionalism, sentimentality or supernaturalism is condemned immediately by the undergraduate.

Stereotyped pictures of Gray-Bearded Gods, the products of childhood teachings, are brought with them from home and these must of necessity fall before the avalanche of scientific smatterings which college gives to all its graduates. This is as it should be. The criticism is that the student is temporarily at least left up in the air without any substantial beliefs on which to base his future religion.

Later on as his knowledge shakes down a bit and be- comes coordinated he can again find a place for God and is able to see where this fits in his philosophy of life.

However, it is not the unsettling in itself which is bad, but the attending result of cynical frowns which devolve upon its discussion. The bull session is still a popular medium because it is unconnected with any organization which is under the critical ban of disapproval. It is entirely an individual problem for each person in the group, and is in most cases not carried beyond the door of the room where the discussion is held except in the minds of the individuals participating.

Therefore it is often difficult to bring these men together a second time, because of the fear of affiliation with an organization which is definitely organized to discuss and help in the solution of these problems. This is the difficulty faced by the D.C.A. It gets around the problem by securing professorial leadership.

THE LITTLE THEATER SESSIONS

However, there has arisen this last year* a new phase in its organization which is directly concerned with religious discussion. Every Sunday evening from twentyfive to sixty fellows gather in the Little Theater under the leadership of some faculty man or visiting lecturer to discuss religious problems. These have often taken a very personal slant as many of the leaders outlined briefly their own religious code and gave various hints as to how this had affected their lives.

It provides an excellent opportunity for the students to learn how some of the men at least were applying their religion, and the heated arguments which followed every presentation were ample proof of the interest which the subjects evoked. From the professorial standpoint it was a somewhat difficult assignment, but they all seemed to enjoy the meeting in spite of the questions which were fired from all sides.

Another interesting development in this group was the policy of having three or four wives of faculty men present to act as hostesses for a light supper preceding the regular meeting. This made it possible for the students to become acquainted with the professor's wives, and was one step along the line of removing classroom formalities from student-faculty relationships.

Many students are indifferent to religion. Many probably always will be, but it is surprising the number that will debate it unofficially, and I suppose still more surprising to find the number who will enter discussion groups when given the opportunity. Religion is not a dead issue, but it does take coaxing to keep it active which probably is not unnatural or even a bad sign. It is a personal problem, but for those who care to learn more about it, the D.C.A. attempts to provide an opportunity.

BAKER LIBRARY From the President's House looking east past the Sigma Nil, Delta Tau Delta, and Zeta Psi fraternities

*The Fellowship meetings in Robinson Hall are still being held weekly under D.C.A. auspices—Ed.