Okay – so today, mark it down, an Islamist militant from Iran who believes that Israel should be wiped off the face of the planet, comes to speak at Columbia University.  The President of Iran has chosen to speak at a private Ivey League university and share his ideas on politics, religion, and whatever else he deems important.  The university president has allowed him to come, only after sharply denouncing much of what is believed to be the man’s ideology.  Much of those who are capitalistic in mindset have taken issue with Columbia on the grounds that they are allowing a man from a terrorist-ridden regime speak out when they would not afford the same courtesy to a conservative in the recent past.  Columbia has also proved unfriendly to the military in its 1960’s order to disallow the ROTC from being a function at their institution.  Conservatives and even some liberals find the aforementioned story to be a disgrace, un-American, and in opposition to all that is good and right in a capitalistic society.

I find the logical digression of such arguments to be faulted and well, ironic.  I, myself make no claims to being leftist, socialist, liberal, or a democrat.  I consider myself to be an American. 

Here is where I find irony to be epitomized on Fox news.  Picture it.  The Bush campaign less than a decade ago.  Bob Jones University, a private institution, allowed Bush to come on campus and share his beliefs, his platform, and his general ideology.  Bush, a Southern Baptist himself, doesn’t hold to religious separation like Fundamentalism, has/had no issue with interracial dating, and occasions a sip of beer from time to time.  Even so, the University allowed him to speak, offering no disclaimer before his arrival.  Some might argue that his agenda was in no way comparable to that of a radical militant with international destruction as his goal; others would not.  Even so, he was invited by a private institution to speak his mind, that institution giving no sanction, credence, or clear acceptance to his beliefs. 

The situations are comparable at least.  The tables have turned.  Now, the university, who has allowed someone with thought that is un-American to speak with their marked disapproval is being lambasted for unfair terms.  Columbia with its denouncement of the ROTC program is on display.  Bob Jones doesn’t allow the ROTC program.  Columbia, whose apparent priority is discussion and education is being faulted as an extreme setting. 

Another note of irony here is that the institution, being claimed “un-American” is being quite the contrary.  They are allowing free speech.  That seems pretty American.

Sidebar:

I think part of the reason candidates like Obama are getting such a listening ear is that they are trying to turn America back into America.  For too long it’s been assumed that America is for the conservative, white, middle to upper-class, hard-working, Protestant, church going, Bible believing man.  That, however would make America an elitist theocracy. 

“Unfortunately” America has lower-class, lazy, Koran-studying, street dwelling, liberal woman as well.  (Sarcasm).  The Constitution even makes room for them.  People like Obama, who I’m not in major support of, are pushing for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, separation of church and state, etc.  He’s wanting to re-Americanize America.  Do I like the thought of a nation run by a Muslim woman who hates hot-dogs, baseball, Jimmy Stewart and Nascar?  Absolutely not.  But, is she as American as me.  Indeed.

So, one of my myspace friends was blogging about his searches for the definition of sin.  After some fluffy banter between the dozens of people who gleaned truths from their inner-lights and their experiences, as well as their buzzword hobby horses, I left this response.  One of the commenters mentioned his beef with Christianity being that many other religions led to Christianity.  He claims their are many myths and religions that Christianity borrowed from.  I'd say he got it a little backwards.  Nonetheless, I left this comment for him.

Teaching at a classical prep-school, I am very aware of the various religions of the world.  Ultimately Christianity IS different.  TRUE Christianity posits and asserts that MAN is not at the center.  There is nothing MAN can do to become like God, to gain favor with God, or for that matter, obtain heaven.  It is the complete act of Christ's vicarious atonement that brings about the sanctifying work done by the Holy Spirit.  Trinitarian religion is also not a novel concept.  I would, however, be careful not to put the cart before the horse.  Israel was at one point a theocracy.  Think Babylonian captivity, humanism, and of those whose "foolish hearts were darkened." 

Peace with God comes only through the predestined, sanctifying work of the Spirit.  Christianity IS original in this.  Atheism is not, by definition a religion; humanism is.  I'd call any secular belief concerning spiritual matters (id est THEOLOGY) humanism.  It places man at the center of the universe.  The first humanist was Adam.  He's the one who got us into this paradoxical conundrum to begin with.  It doesn't take my good deeds, my efforts, my bitter obsequious behavior or offerings to bring me into communion with the Creator of the universe.  It takes the sacrifice of the only one worthy, the only One without spot, blemish, or disease.  He was precocious in His understanding of the Father's will and came "not to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many." 

Granted, many religions offer a "superhuman" hero to replace that of Christ.  Christ is verified among the gospel writers, Josephus, and a host of others.  C.S. Lewis espoused logic in his assertion that Christ was either God (as He claimed to be), a crazy man (as He claimed to be God), or a liar (as He claimed to be God).

The age of Enlightenment brought us knowledge that had been jettisoned, buried under the gravel of the dark ages.  The age of Romanticism brought us the love for the supernatural, abstract, and that which we could daydream over; the age of modernism brought us the scientific method and the search for truth via the senses.  The age of post-modernism has brought us blurred lines of truth and abstract definitions.  Semantics have shifted, but all these ages have one thing in common.  Like their pseudo-founder Adam - they seek to put MAN at the center.  I'd say when religion, including Christianity, follows this humanistic thread of thought that ties the ages together, disaster ensues.  Wars, rumors of wars, strife, and death are creations of the non-innocent man who seeks nought more in the portage of his quotidian tasks then to honor and glorify Himself.  True Christianity is one that depends on Christ, the "author and finisher of the faith".  True Christianity and undefiled before man is this - to care for the widows and fatherless in their affliction.  They will know that we are Christians by our love.  If I have not love, I am as a clanging cymbal.  All else is humanism.

Well, it's almost here - Guy Fawkes Day and I am posting again.  I think I should get paid for posting considering ALL of you bug me about it so often.  LOL - Myspace has trumped! 

Right now I am in Greenville for the weekend.  The weather has proved that South Carolina is "Fall-Free".  We slipped from 80 degree weather two weeks ago to watching eskimos set up camp in the back yard last night!  I'm convinced that the god of global warming is roaming around somewhere in Jacksonville saying "where the heck is that stinking map?  I cannot find South Carolina!!!"  So, most of my stuff is in storage in Greenville.  Therefore, if you see me wearing the same long-sleeved t-shirts, 3 striped dress shirts, blue sweatshirts, and a pea-coat EVERY day, DON'T ask questions. 

So, I am realizing that "sad" can mean so many things these days.  Students Against Drunk Driving, Seasonal Affective Disorder, "with a contrite, broken, or melancholy spirit," Stupid Abdominal Dimples (did I make that one up?).  Even so, it's ironic that NONE of the above listed definitions for "sad" (or SADD) is anything positive.  I think a lot of us, this time of year, tend to experience "sad".  More and more students are coming to school with the non-intentional peacock hairdo from oversleeping, trapsing in with bags under their eyes, and just having the overall "ticked off" attitude.  It's "sad" to see students having a rough time.  The lack of sunlight, the added stress of the holidays coming up, the cold weather, ALL make for misery. 

We are trying our hardest to counter some of that.  We took a retreat last weekend to Lake Keowee and had a GREAT time.  I even breathed on some of the students to warm them up (not really).  We have a barn dance coming up to break the monotony.  We are praying more than ever for the individual students that we see struggling.  We are trying to be conscious of the amount of homework we are giving.  We are even going to have a little pizza party for Guy Fawkes Day.  See you all on Monday!  Be prepared to do something Guy Fawkesish.