Page Eight THE COLLEGE NEWS Friday, March lL 1968 Platforms groups. And wouldn’t it be a good idea ” to have interchanges and panel discussions among the groups, exchanges which could be open to the whole college? One sub- ject for such a conference might be: the Significance of religion to a church- affiliated college student, Interfaith should continue to bring the interested student in touch with her own church, A coffee with local rabbis and ministers, for the special benefit of in- . ~@oming freshmen but open to all, would be a nice idea, Finally, Interfaith should tuse new spi- rit into its avowed goal of establishing a worship service or several types of services which would be significant to and in harmony with the gamut.of re- tae views at Bryn Mawr - admittedly, a very difficult task. One service could be designed for Jewish thought, another for Christian and still another for Eas- tern. There is the possibility of having an hour of chamber music and meditation every Sunday afternoon. Monthly concerts sung in the Library Reading Room at Sunday noon could be reinstituted, Interfaith can do and contribute so much, and it should! Margaret Byerly Over the past few years, I have be- come interested in the relation between religion and the problems of life. Do we practice what is preached? Churches take collection every week. Some build extensions on their present buildings; some send missionaries out to convert others, But how much does the church do in its own neighborhood about the racial situation, for instance, or poverty? How many people think about their react- ions to their church service longer than througti Sunday dinner? How many go to church because it’s the thing. to do? Are Christians being distracted from the main goals of Christianity through the rivalry various sects? In England, the huge cathedrals all over the country hold services for a mere handful of people, and even in mostly-Catholic Italy, attendance is poor. Doesn’t bad atten- .dance reflect on the influence and worth of religion? I am not saying that we could solve all these problems in Interfaith, but I do feel that it would be beneficial and interesting to try to find the cause of religious apathy and to define the place of religion in society ahd its responsi- bility to help to improve some of the pro- blems of society today. I speak not only of Christian and American churches, but of religions all over the world. I also feel, myself, a lack of knowledge about some American religious sects, ‘Mormons or Mennonites, for instance. I have met people who did not know that Mormons are Christians or what Quakers are. I think that as well as being conversant with foreign religions, we should learn about the various groups in our own country. How do they differ? Why were they formed? Perhaps an- swers to questions like these will help in a search for the answer to the bigger problem of the worth of religion in gen- eral, I would like to hear some atheists tell what caused them to reject their faith. How did their churches fail to reach them? The theory that God is dead has been _ argued both ways, but the fact that the rumor arose in the first place indicates religion somewhere. Why do in not to bring speakers to the campus and arouse student interest in religion. Because of the diversity and general interest of the | speakers and programs, such as the 2) EY we sigs ’ film, ‘‘The Phoenix,’? Interfaith carries out the aims of the Committee on Reli- gious Life in a way that is relevant to the college community. Interfaith’s most active role on cam- pus has been the sponsoring of q lecture series. Many of the speakers in the past have talked about subjects of general interest to students rather than on speci- fically theological subjects. Most of the Jecturesare—of--interest to more than a single denominational group. I would like to continue this program of spea- kers, with topics that would be interest- ing to more than a minority of stu- dents, Interfaith itself is non-denominational; it represents the religions of all stu- dents on campus, Several denominational discussion groups have been organized on campus, and more would be welcome, I would like to encourage communication among the groups. This year I have worked with Interfaith as a dorm re- presentative, Peggy McGarry The fact that there are five candidates .. running for the presidency of Interfaith this year, ii comparison to the situation of last year in which no one was willing to run for the office, can be taken hope- fully as a sign of a renewed interest in Interfaith on campus. This interest should be pursued and’ encouraged, I think, through the organization’s main activity, its lecture series. Through the use of a campus - wide questionnaire, much like the one the Social Committee distributed at the beginning of this year, the suggestions for topics and speakers of interest to many students might. be uti- lized to make the series an important and constantly relevant part of the general ‘campus life. As one of the Big Six organizations with dorm representation, in light of the funds available for this series, and surely by virtue of its na- ture, Interfaith owes to the campus apro- gram of wide appeal. If this kind of lecture series and accom- panying interest could be realized, I think arrangements should be made where- by students wishing to do so could come together at some time after the lecture for discussion. In relation to this a speaker should be urged to come pre- pared to provide those interested with a bibliography on his topic. In connection with such a drive toward a wider appeal in its, lectures and a reater impact on the life of the college, Int th must expand its efforts to in- crease the cooperation between itself and the other organizations on campus, particularly Alliance and League. With the emphasis today in religious circles, especially those in which younger people are involved, being put increasingly on the ‘‘witness’’ aspect of faith, the col- ‘ house, - taining her non-sectarian policy, has a of these might be increased and: new programs initiated. Forums and panel discussions combining the political, social, and religious moral aspects of topics like the above, abortion, the use of violence in social change, the impli- cations of imperialism on another culture, ~-etc., would make use of the resources of many groups, have a broader appeal and further integrate life outside the col- lege with that within it. This cooperation between campus groups might also help in renewing the much-discussed ‘Bryn Mawr com- munity.”? In addition, I would like to see this policy extended within Interfaith itself; to see the various religious dis- cussion groups, some of which are now quite strong, participate. in this effort. An endeavor to enter into dialogue with one another in the coming year would be both beneficial to them and their mem- bers, and would aid in increasing the all- over impact of Interfaith on the campus. Finally , I think Interfaith must act, as it has not in the past, as a vehicle for communication between interested stu- dents and groups on campus and the va- rious--national- student’ religious groups and movements. Mary Schrom I believe we are in the’ midst of a religious revival. Let me hasten to ex- plain myself. I certainly do not mean religious in its institutional sense nor revival with all its Billy Graham connot- ations, The phenomenon is indeed limited, But I do méan that in the past year, along with increasihg. eS SSS TTSBVASASAABAS SS UNUSUAL AND LARGE SELECTION GIFTS AND CARDS RICHARD STOCKTON 851 Lancaster Ave.. 9. GIFTS SOCIAL: . °Valentine's. Day Cards & Gifts