I read Albert Farr’s letter in Tuesday’s Daily, and was amazed at the amount of contradiction and pseudo-religious babble that can pour from one letter.

It is unfortunate that someone who states that he loves freedom and Christian beliefs must abandon those beliefs and attack those who do not believe as he does.

I would like to get one thing out of the way first. After perusing my ISU Bulletin (a handy book I would recommend all students get so you actually KNOW what the course is about), I looked at the description stated in the bulletin for the only course offered on the Bible as a whole, Religious Studies 220: Introduction to the Bible.

I will quote from the bulletin: “Basic overview of the contents of the Old and New Testament in light of their ancient socio-historical background, and with attention to a variety of interpretations and relevance to modern American society.”

Mr. Farr has objections to the fact that his professor “offers his opinion” and “attempt(s) to find contradictions in the Bible”.

As the course clearly states, attention will be paid to interpretation. Now Mr. Farr may not agree with those interpretations, but to say he didn’t expect them seems naive at best. Iowa State is not a seminary; it is a university of science and technology.

Add to this the fact that ISU’s religious studies program is a branch of the philosophy department, and you can pretty much guess that this course will not be the same as one taught at a secular institution.

In a university environment, provoking thought is supposed to be the norm, and I’m sure many in your class took it for just that reason.

Which goes to the point of my letter. I have too often heard people such as Mr. Farr, who espouse themselves as devout Christians, claim that their beliefs are not being served on this campus.

Firstly, this is a public institution with no religious ties. Yet students ARE allowed to join any of the 30+ university recognized religious affiliated organizations on campus.

One can not help but notice this as the campus is peppered with information about them, from leaflets and posters to table tents placed on every table in the residence halls’ dining rooms.

We are inundated with speakers at the Hub shouting their beliefs and telling all who object how wrong they really are.

True Christians are those who believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, who taught understanding, reverence, peace and tolerance. Yet today many “Christians” take pride in their intolerance of others. They get angry at them, they try to impose their will upon those who don’t agree, and in extreme cases attempt to do those people harm. “Christians” beating gays and bombing clinics do not seem to fulfill the mandate of peace and understanding as taught by Christ.

Mr. Farr blames the Godless masses for the decline in America, but since 84 percent of Americans claim themselves as Christians, the blame must fall elsewhere. I myself believe that such intolerance of others who don’t share their belief systems, as Mr. Farr seems to have for Atheists and Agnostics, corrupts our free society as much as any criminal act.

Atheists and Agnostics have just as much right to be an organized group in this country as any other group with the same belief system. To say that they have no relevance, as Mr. Farr has, is just another way of practicing intolerance.

He questions their motives, and then states that he hasn’t heard of “Christians, Jews and Taoists killing non-believers in today’s society.”

I cannot speak for the Taoists, but those that call themselves Christians have been beating, bombing and killing people for years, and the Jewish nation still wars with their Muslim neighbors.

Racism, ethnic cleansing and posturing in the name of religion are commonplace in today’s society, yet Mr. Farr is concerned that those that choose either not to believe or question the existence of God are getting together.

They have the right to believe as they wish and even organize if they wish because we attempt to be a country of free thinking individuals. Mr. Farr, you don’t question your right to your beliefs, why do you question theirs?

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Tony Forsmark

Sophomore

Business and performing arts