Dear Editor,
I guess “Dear Jared Ongie” would be more to my point. Thank you. Over the past few weeks, I’ve read article after article about The Well, about alternatives to The Well, about the ups and downs of campus ministries and I’ve felt disconnected.
I’ve skimmed these articles, and been disappointed when I finished them. I’ve been to these organizations, looked for the magical faith that mainstream religion promises and I’ve always come home disheartened, often with a bad taste in my mouth. I’ve found so many Christians and their organizations to be intolerant, discriminating and closed-minded. Time and time again, I’ve looked for something divine and found messages of hate wrapped up in misquoted or misused scripture.
Thank you for understanding that you don’t have to be a Republican, you don’t have to hate homosexuals, you don’t have to take a hand in the more oppressive and destructive aspects of the religion to be a good Christian.
Thanks for pointing out that you don’t have to be a Christian to be a good person. Your story of sudden, startlingly pure faith moved me in a way that contrived campus ministries never will – and I thank you for it.
Elle Smith

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