Letters to the Editor (10/12/06)

To the editor:

I was pleased to see the editorial “Religion to Become a Gen-Ed?” in the… To the editor:

I was pleased to see the editorial “Religion to Become a Gen-Ed?” in the Oct. 6 issue of The Pitt News. As undergraduate adviser for the Department of Religious Studies, I certainly agree that a “well-rounded education” should include the study of religion.

And, as you point out, the study of religion at Pitt, as at most other major research universities, is not an exercise in religious (or anti-religious) indoctrination but a non-sectarian attempt to understand and interpret phenomena that have been and continue to be major elements of human society and culture.

I am pleased that many undergraduates do take our courses as electives or as part of a major or minor in religious studies. But students looking to fulfill general education requirements can look to our courses as well.

Although there is no “religion” gen-ed requirement at Pitt, we regularly offer courses (taught by departmental faculty and cross-listed with other departments) that satisfy many of the existing general education requirements. So if anyone does need that extra incentive to take a religious studies course before he or she graduates, there are many possibilities!

Adam Shear

Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies

Department of Religious Studies

2604 Cathedral of Learning

ashear@pitt.edu

http://pittreligiousstudies.blogspot.com/

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Dear Editor,

I am a student at the University of Pittsburgh, and I just had a couple of things to say about the pro-life rally held outside the Cathedral of Learning on Monday. The pictures displayed on the sidewalks for everyone to see were uselessly disturbing and did nothing but shock people as they went to class. I did not ask to be visually assaulted by these people. Students should have a right to choose when and where they wish to evaluate their opinions on such emotional issues. Personally, I think that we should not have to deal with that kind of attack on our way to school.

In this case, shock value was highly overrated by those behind the message. This kind of propaganda does not add value to their message, nor does it convey any kind of useful information. The protestors turned people off and affected a lot of people negatively.

This campus is pretty liberal, and those who are conservative aren’t close-minded, so I am sure I am not the only one upset. I know people can have their own beliefs, and are allowed to stand outside and say those beliefs, but this was out of bounds and completely ridiculous. It really upset me to see those pictures.

Thanks for your time,

Schawnne Kilgus