Eric Fromm has received a lot of hugs on campus lately — at least once a day since he “came out” as an atheist last week in an article in his Christian university’s online newspaper.
And while the Northwest Christian University student body president doesn’t quite know what to do with all the new attention he’s receiving, he says it’s a welcome change from the isolation, verbal attacks and accusing questions that he’d grown to expect as rumors about his nonbelief circulated.
Though his active campus involvement was enough to win him the student government presidential election, Fromm said he’s felt judged by some of his peers throughout college because, as he wrote in the article that appeared in the school’s Beacon Bolt newspaper last week, “I couldn’t force myself to believe in God.”
“I’m too young to really know what’s going to happen after death,” Fromm said. “What I really want to focus on is what I’m doing here, and what it’s going to change.”The Register Guard
17 comments:
Be more interesting if he came out as a heterosexual Catholic at Haavahd.
Oh, Jesus. I'd like more people to "stay in" wherever they're coming out of.
Other brainy quotes from Erich Fromm
"I know that people accept me for who I am."
I'd be agnostic about that, if I were him.
I thought Erich Fromm was the guy who wrote "Love Story" but I was wrong.
I went to a Christian college. It was always mildly amusing to see the people who were so proud about breaking the rules or announcing, often in a pseudo-sophisticated stance, they had lost their faith.
Big deal. They stand out because their in a community that is intentional about certain standards. They're nothing special outside that small pond. So they stay in the small pond to declare their uniqueness as rebels standing against the Man.
Meanwhile they don't have enough actual character to own up to their supposed stance. If you're not a Christian, go to one of the many other non-confessional schools. Not because we should hate or dismiss atheists, but because having to talk about whether God even exists positions the discussion in a far different place than if this is the assumption and people are working out in their lives what it means.
It's a form of cowardice in the guise of enlightenment. Own the decision rather than feeling special for being exactly like most other people.
"“I’m too young to really know what’s going to happen after death"
Yea, don't hold your breath on that one.
Other brainy quotes from Erich Fromm
Bumper stickers.
Since this is largely a question of contrarian beliefs, doesn't this have all the newsworthiness of a communist "coming out" amidst a crowd of capitalists?
What's the point of going to a Christian college for an atheist?
I have a feeling NW Christian College is about as "Christian" as Georgetown is Catholic.
Pffft. Attention whore is what he is. Look at ME! Look at MEE!
If he had courage in his convictions, he'd enroll in an Islamic university and then make a declaration of his atheism.
Or just as life threatening, declare that he is a pro-life Democrat.
Maybe to spice things up a little the student body could as a group tie him to a pole and stick him at the top of the homecoming bonfire? Give the Pacific Northwest it's own little auto-da-fe! YeeeHaa!
I know, I know. You couldn't do it. They're a whole different religious tradition. It just wouldn't feel right.
Students at Christian colleges are covetous little petty thieves too. The person who stole my sunglasses off my front car seat is a shit.
Serious-ass yellow pilot glasses that cut glare. We got a lot of that out here.
I thought, "Open windows. Sunny day. Cars parked close by. People coming and going. Christian college."
My fault, I suppose, for weighting the 'Christian college' part too heavily. And tempting too deliciously.
Regis College students cannot be fully trusted, not so much as say, USAF Academy. You could safely leave your Rolex on the front seat of an open convertible there. I bet. Here, give me your Rolex and let's test it out.
“He’s a man of very high character and respect,” Fuller said of Fromm.
Boy, will that statement resonate with Christians. The essence of Paul's message.
I hoped Paddy O would leave a brilliant insightful comment.
and he did...
Chip - It may not be the students. It could be that those parking lots are targeted by thieves because the thieves are taking advantage of the trusting Christians.
Only a guess.
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