The other day I received an email from a student organization inviting me to a group activity. The group is a collection of students who share similar beliefs and values. The members of the group gather to discuss their shared values and frequently participate in activities with the goal of teaching others about their point of view. They often invite others to join their group and share in their beliefs. Sometimes there are politcal events that the members of this group feel are important and they gather to speak out in support of the values they hold dear.
But wait... I attend a state school. Can this group really use the school's rooms, chairs, and lights when they gather? You can't have a bunch of people sitting around using state facilities to promote their own idea of what is right and wrong. How dare they?
Come to think of it, this group likes to get together and discuss hot topics like marriage, abortion, and prayer in school. This simply will not do!
Wait! Everything is ok...
These believers will be just fine... There is no rule that says people can't gather together and use government facilities to promote the a common goal of spreading values and beliefs...
Or is there?
I guess it just depends on what the group believes. Where do their ideas about what is fundamentally right come from? Do they come from some internal moral compass? Or do they believe in a higer power?
For their sake I hope they can't come up with a source. I hope they can't name the place where their ideals, values, and goals come from.
Because once they do they will have crossed the line between belief and religion; and that's a bad thing.
As long as you don't give your belief system a name you can push your beliefs and values on anybody you want. Blame your values on God or Buddah or some magic plant and you're out the door.
What was the name of that group?
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