Bibles Replacing Beer On College Campuses

(CBS)  You don't have to look far to see why the University of Wisconsin makes the Top 10 list of party schools year after year, CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports. A trip down popular State Street says it all.

But these days, another kind of bingeing is catching on, one that is less about beer and more about the Bible.

Rae Gillen used to follow the party crowd. Now she leads prayer groups in the dorm. She made the change after breaking up with a boyfriend two years ago.

"It was just probably the most difficult time of my life that I've ever had, just really sad all the time, really depressed. And didn't really know how to fix it," Gillen says.

She found her fix in Campus Crusade for Christ, a student organization whose services resemble a kind of college party for God. Their membership at Wisconsin has tripled in the last five years.

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An interview with Tony Arnold, leader of the Campus Crusade for Christ.

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That mix of higher education and a higher power isn't unique to Madison. Campus Crusade for Christ says it has expanded to 1,200 campuses, and has seen its membership almost double during the last decade.

UCLA researchers found the vast majority of students entering college say they're on a spiritual quest. Nearly 80 percent say they believe in God, nearly 70 percent pray, and they're looking for a new way to explore faith, outside of the traditional church.

A half-dozen college ministries are spending millions to build private, religiously themed dorms close to campus like one in Madison that has an underground passage to the Presbyterian church next door.

"Students will be able to come right underneath and come up and worship in their pajamas if they want," says Pastor Mark Eldson.

What Gillen really wanted was a sense of belonging and a deeper connection.

"People who desired to really know me and not just me as the person who was crazy enough to do something that, after a few beers I was willing to do," Gillen says.

It's not that today's students are giving up the party in favor of prayer. But when the party's over, some search for more than just a ride home.

[randalds]

Quote:
God save us from religious indoctrination.

Posted by RandalDS at 10:30 PM


I was being ironic. Though I'm not surprised that irony goes over your head.

As for why comment at all, why not? Surely someone with the, ironic, screen name of missamerica wouldn't deny an American, even an atheist, the right to free speech. Or would you?

[missamerica4]

RandalDS

WOW, way cool.
This story even has atheist praying, LOL

Quote:
God save us from religious indoctrination.
Posted by RandalDS at 10:30 PM

Wonderful.
Question please.
If "I don't believe in any religion " , " I simply don't believe a God is possible," , " it is a case of religion is not logical to me." , "Man created God in his own image and likeness," , "I have no doubt at all that the idea of a god is a creation of men," , "If I could be said to have any faith at all it would be the faith to say there is no god. "
With that said why are you posting ? If you are a non-believer , who does not care what others believe why take the opportunity of a positive story on some people seeking and apparently finding God to express a negative, your non belief?

[newtothis2]

Two great articles:

Six reasons it is legitimate to conclude God exists: http://everystudent.com/features/isthere.html

and why many believe Jesus is God: http://everystudent.com/features/faith.html

Merry Christmas!

[randalds]

Since I don't believe in god I don't believe in meeting some sort of written down standard. I know when I'm doing good or bad and what makes me happy with myself, so that all I care about. If I could be said to have any faith at all it would be the faith to say there is no god.

[mialucia7]

I was once struck with the question: what does it mean to be a "good" person? How can you tell how you measure up in God's eyes (cuz he's the one who makes the final decision, right?)

Then what is God's standard? In the book of Isaiah, he says our "righteous acts are like filthy rags". In other words, our best attempts at goodness are not good enough to God--he has a higher standard that us. His standard is perfection.

So the issue is not if we're good enough to go to heaven, it's that no one's good enough since clearly no one is perfect. Isaiah 59 says a lot about this & that the penalty for sinning is separation from God, which continues throughout eternity if we don't do something about it.

My point: we are not condemned because we don't believe in God, we are condemned because we are not perfect aka sinful.

[randalds]

Well then I guess I can stop giving to charities.
Christians are the only one with morals & a kind hearts to give to others.

Posted by Baye13 at 06:40 PM : Dec 15, 2006

I heard that. Funny but every time I've given money to charity or helped someone out they never stopped to ask if I was an atheist and I never stopped to worry if they were Christian.

[baye13]

Well then I guess I can stop giving to charities.
Christians are the only one with morals & a kind hearts to give to others.

[randalds]

Doesn't seem to me that I put any words in anyone's mouth and what my statement means is that I to do not believe a God would condemn someone to hell if they were unaware of his existence. Also since, as I have stated, I don't believe in god it is by definition impossible for me to slander him or her, not that I said anything slanderous anyway.

As to if I do or do not exist to someone who has never met me, well that's a philosophy question, not a religious one. Personally I have no idea if I do exist to them and actually don't care one way or another. I don't believe god exists, not because i can't see him or her, but because the concept makes no sense to me. besides I have no doubt at all that the idea of a god is a creation of men, not the other way around. But hey, believe what you want to believe.

[random_radar]

"if there were a God the he or she would not operate that way."

Posted by RandalDS at 01:00 PM : Dec 15, 2006
---------------
Hmmm...so the fact that some people don't know about religion implies that God doesn't exist and religion is false?

Does that mean that you don't exist because some people don't know about you?

Or that radio waves don't exist because some people don't know about them?

I personally don't believe that God would condemn a person to burn in hell just because they hadn't heard of God, but I know that some people do believe that.

I don't like you putting words in my mouth and claiming things about my religious beliefs that are flat out lies. You are trying to hurt me with your calumny. If you are such a wonderful, intelligent person, why would you hurt me?

But my opinion of religion and your opinion of religion don't matter at all. The only opinion on religion that matters would be God's opinion. So I would recommend that we spend more time looking for God than slandering God. God is the last person in the universe I would risk offending.

[nadeau4201]

VAPastor... look up www.worldslastchance.com and please tell me what you think!