Religious opinion
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Letters to Editor
Dear Editor,
The Oct. 6 edition of the East Tennessean had an article by Whitney Harris and a letter by Bob Dietz that both concerned religious belief.
Dietz wtrote a letter to the editor printed in the paper in which he, most likely jokingly, endorsed Satanism.
Mr. Dietz's letter was most likely meant as levity, however, he brings a valid point to the surface through the use of humor: not everyone here is Christian.
Harris has written five articles for the paper, and all of them have been religiously based and none of them have even casually mentioned a news story.
All five of Ms. Harris' articles could be best described as Christian propaganda.
I have been reading the East Tennessean for the last two years and don't recall an article appearing in the paper that endorsed or positively propagandized for another faith.
As a student at this university I don't believe the purpose of the newspaper is to act as a propaganda tool for one religion.
This university is not a religiously based organization, which should be evident since it is a state school.
As a state school people of any faith can and do attend this school including Christians, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Wiccans, Hindus and I'd imagine other faiths as well.
Considering the vast range of faiths present at the university, why does the East Tennessean only print religiously based articles from the Christian faith?
I would suggest that Ms. Harris should either chose to use her column to discuss current news stories be they international, national, regional, state, county, city or campus based, or Ms. Harris should stop writing for the paper.
As a secular institution our newspaper should be secular.
It's just that simple.
- Steven Perkins
Editor's note:
The East Tennessean does not endorse any religion, and publishing a religious article does not make the entire paper religious.
Harris' columns appear in the Viewpoint (otherwise known as opinion) section of the ET because they represent her particular worldview.
If a columnist wanted to write for the ET about life as a Muslim college student, Jewish college student, atheist student, Buddhist, Wiccan, Hindu, agnostic, etc., we would gladly publish those columns.
The Oct. 6 edition of the East Tennessean had an article by Whitney Harris and a letter by Bob Dietz that both concerned religious belief.
Dietz wtrote a letter to the editor printed in the paper in which he, most likely jokingly, endorsed Satanism.
Mr. Dietz's letter was most likely meant as levity, however, he brings a valid point to the surface through the use of humor: not everyone here is Christian.
Harris has written five articles for the paper, and all of them have been religiously based and none of them have even casually mentioned a news story.
All five of Ms. Harris' articles could be best described as Christian propaganda.
I have been reading the East Tennessean for the last two years and don't recall an article appearing in the paper that endorsed or positively propagandized for another faith.
As a student at this university I don't believe the purpose of the newspaper is to act as a propaganda tool for one religion.
This university is not a religiously based organization, which should be evident since it is a state school.
As a state school people of any faith can and do attend this school including Christians, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Wiccans, Hindus and I'd imagine other faiths as well.
Considering the vast range of faiths present at the university, why does the East Tennessean only print religiously based articles from the Christian faith?
I would suggest that Ms. Harris should either chose to use her column to discuss current news stories be they international, national, regional, state, county, city or campus based, or Ms. Harris should stop writing for the paper.
As a secular institution our newspaper should be secular.
It's just that simple.
- Steven Perkins
Editor's note:
The East Tennessean does not endorse any religion, and publishing a religious article does not make the entire paper religious.
Harris' columns appear in the Viewpoint (otherwise known as opinion) section of the ET because they represent her particular worldview.
If a columnist wanted to write for the ET about life as a Muslim college student, Jewish college student, atheist student, Buddhist, Wiccan, Hindu, agnostic, etc., we would gladly publish those columns.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Ben
posted 10/09/08 @ 8:55 AM CST
Mr. Perkins - This column is published in the viewpoint setion of the newspaper. This is obviously Ms. Harris' view and should be respected and printed. (Continued…)
awake
posted 10/10/08 @ 9:07 AM CST
"The East Tennessean does not endorse any religion" but it appears that ETSU stifles free speech and rational debate on the grounds of sensitivity to Muslims. (Continued…)
jeremymcneese
Jeremy
posted 10/20/08 @ 5:00 PM CST
honestly, I as a current student and as a Christian, I think it is ok to indoctrinate anything. But let's be honest, Free speech is ends only when Christ's name is mentioned. (Continued…)
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