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Student group looks at Bible, religion through secular eyes

Source: dailynebraskan.com (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Date: November 6, 2007
Author:  Heather Price

Bible study may be a familiar weekly ritual for many students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, allowing them to spend time discussing the word of God in a theological perspective.

Atheism and Bible study may seem like a contradictory idea to some, but in an age when virtually nothing seems black and white, it may not come as a shock.

The Center for Inquiry on Campus, formally Campus Freethought Alliance, is a student group that promotes the spread of free thought, scientific inquiry and secular values and holds its own Bible study.

"We take a look at the Bible in a kind of lecture-oriented way," said Alex Ramos, secretary for CFI and a junior music major. "We're not doing anything terribly radical like some might assume.

"We're not gearing toward why the Bible is wrong."

CFI Bible study usually meets the first Thursday of every month with open-ended discussions that discuss the Bible with support from scholarly sources, like Robert Price, a fellow of the Jesus Seminar and research fellow of the Center for Inquiry Institute.

"We're about critically examining our own ideas and weighing them against other people's ideas," said Thomas Hurd, former president of CFI and a senior political science and pre-law major.

Instead of looking at the Bible in a theological way, CFI takes a secular look through open-ended lectures.

"We've never been a group that monopolizes information and discussion," Hurd said.

"Understanding the sociological context is a key thing to really understand in the meaning of the text," he said.

Although Hurd said he definitely wouldn't call himself an expert on language, that idea of understanding allows CFI to examine the Bible in a larger framework and in turn compare and contrast different interpretations of how the text originated and what it means.

Students might remember CFI more clearly from their "Ask an Atheist" panel the group held last spring at which panelists answered any questions from students.

Ramos said the panel was successful, and he hopes to bring it back during spring semester.

CFI has also promoted the group through fliers, a fundraising concert and an informational booth at Big Red Welcome.

As for this semester, CFI plans on organizing a debate on the existence of God in late November.

"It's cheesy in a way, but it's always good to bring in a draw of people," Ramos said.

Although many students that join are atheists, the group is targeted toward any free-thinkers of any religious belief or non-belief.

"We don't discriminate; the group is open to anyone," Hurd said. "We are just trying to equip people with the tools to challenge their predispositions."

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