http://www.coloradodaily.com/articles/2004/01/26/news/news04.txt
Care for some God with your pizza? By SCOTT HEISER Colorado Daily Staff What must it be like "handing tickets out for God" (to quote Elton John) during the lunch hour on the CU-Boulder campus? What's it like to convey your faith, armed with slick informational packets, to an often-indifferent student body?On any given day, lively volunteers stationed at corridor tables are highly visible to students in the University Memorial Center. There, they present religious views that differ greatly in scope and message.
A homemaker and mother, Lorrie Wegman, volunteers at a table that introduces students to the faith of the Jehovah's Witnesses, a fundamentalist Protestant Christian group.
Wegman is jovial and very positive in conversations with students.
"One thing that's different about Jehovah's Witnesses, as opposed to other religions, is that we're not on a proselytizing mission to convert the world," said Wegman. "But our purpose is to do an educational work, to educate people. We're not as result-oriented as most. The success we do have is wonderful."
Her devout beliefs have inspired her to try and connect with students on a spiritual level, by speaking with them, answering their questions and handing out flyers.
"I think one of the beautiful things about us being here is they get to see the real purpose of why we're here," explained Wegman. "We're not here to argue or lambaste them, just to have a nice discussion."
Still, some students, the intended audience of this dogma, are skeptical.
"As a tool to introduce people to the [group as a] community, it's a positive thing, but I think the way they go about it is a sales pitch, which is not what religion's about," said senior and dance major Nicole Phillips. "It's a dark, manipulative way of doing it. It's through consumerist tactics, marketing - it seems more like a business than spiritual practice - if it's about spirituality, you can't try and sell that."
Phillips explained that she feels the groups' messages are incongruous, and should not be on campus.
In a culture of religious apathy, bringing their message to people can involve some amount of persuasion on the part of these staffers.
Bruce, who requested his last name be withheld, passed out flyers and answered questions for a table promoting a Thursday presentation in the UMC regarding the controversial question, "Evolution or The Bible?"
He was adamant that he was only speaking for himself and not the event's sponsor, the Campus Bible Fellowship. Bruce characterized his occupation as "apologist for the messianic truth of God's word."
Campus Bible Fellowship organizer, Tom, also asking his surname be withheld, explained that his group's attempts to sway students are somewhat necessary.
"We don't consider ourselves hardcore, in-your-face. But if we're colorless, nobody will listen," said Tom. "So we try and slow them down without being obnoxious. We're hoping and praying that our questions will do that. One of the raciest questions we've ever asked is 'What would Jesus say to Britney Spears?' And that question brought reasonably positive responses."
Touching on the presentation on the question of "Evolution or The Bible?," Tom explained that he foresaw people misleading themselves by adhering to evolution.
"In reference to evolution, we don't believe students should commit intellectual suicide, we believe people should integrate fact and faith seven days a week," said Tom.
Contrasting to the non-threatening messages presented by the Jehovah's Witnesses, some students expressed some aggravation with the Campus Bible Fellowship's presentation style.
Sophomore Sean Chase said "the ladies with the Jehovah's Witness[es] were nice and a good presence. But the guys at the ["Evolution or the Bible?"] table were angry and came off argumentative. I think they should be allowed to be here but I don't necessarily think they're sane people."
Another sophomore, communications major Ben Knighten, explained that the sometimes abrasive nature of the discussion can still elicit a positive, thought-provoking discussion for students.
Knighten said that the people at the tables may make people think about their own beliefs, but are nothing more than harmless nuisances to those who wish not to be bothered.
"I would say I don't feel my rights are being violated by seeing a flyer in between the salt shaker or chalked on the sidewalk," explained Knighten.
When all is said and done, Wegman said that most students are receptive to their ideas.
"I would say that the majority of kids are open-minded and searching still," said Wegman.
However, Tom was still cynical about the state of student faith.
"Most of them think they're pretty good," he said. "Relative to Hitler they are. Relative to Jesus, they're not."
Not as result orientated as most?
No the year book and results found in the Jan WT are just a mirage.
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Ignored One.