Feature Stories/ Contents


Message from the Conservatory of Music


Letters


Around Tappan Square

Professor Norman Craig says farewell

In Brief


Student Perspective


Bookshelf


Healing Power of Shakespeare


Profile


Losses


The Last Word

New Yourker cartoonist Bob Blechman '52 on reunion reality


Staff Box


One More Thing


 

www.oberlin.edu HOME

 

OAM HOME

 

Write to : alum.mag@oberlin.edu

 
 
Letters

"Was there no one on campus you could have interviewed who has a personal relationship with God?"


 

What Happened to Religion?

We read with interest the article "The Way They Do It Now" in the Summer 2000 issue. It appears to me that the present status of religion on campus still leaves a lot to be desired. If any school was ever thoroughly religious in its founding, it was Oberlin--even named for an Alsatian pastor. Early leaders and students were most committed to Christ. The Lane Seminary from Cincinnati came on board because of the school's stance in favor of the abolition of slavery. Charles G. Finney, the prime evangelist of the 1800s, left his indelible mark on Oberlin.As a former theologian, I and many of the seminarians and the Oberlin family will always feel that the seminary was tossed out as somewhat of an embarassment to the college and conservatory, claiming the seminary's buildings and endowment. To be true, a token sum of money and six professors were sent to Vanderbilt Divinity School. Perhaps Oberlin will always suffer from this incident.As Isaiah said, ""Look to the rock from which you were hewn and the quarry from which you were dug."" Might not hurt Oberlin to be doing some of this in the new millennium.
Raymond Gaylord '46
Grand Rapids, Michigan

 

You Can't Destroy the Spirit

I read with interest your story about religion on campus, having been a campus ministry intern there in 1965 while studying at the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology. While I realize the story was about the present, it was interesting to note the resurgence of spirituality there and the lack of mention of the founder of the college, John Frederick Oberlin, himself a spiritual leader, and Charles Finney, who probably would have preached against much of contemporary spirituality. In a paradoxical way, the interest supports the contention many of us made when the college sought to close the graduate school, that you can destroy the buildings, but not the spirit. Ironic that the prophetic spirit of Oberlin turned on itself!
Rev. John Morgan '66
Reading, Pennsylvania

 

No Mention of the Holy Spirit

The article on ""religion at Oberlin"" demonstrates how little God there really is at Oberlin. Only at politically-correct OC could an article span four pages and not mention Jesus, the Son of God, nor the Holy Spirit. God the Father was mentioned three times, albeit in a dangerously disrespectful way, engendered by profound ignorance of the subject matter.Was there no one on campus you could have interviewed who has apersonal relationship with God? Lastly, we Spirit-filled, born-again believers (yes, they also exist in the Oberlin student body!) aren't primarily members of "religions." Rather, our self-definition centers on faith developed as a result of an up-close and very personal experience. Charles Finney and the early OC community knew exactly what I'm talking about.Anne
Wickham '69
Miamisburg, Ohio

 

Next Page >>>