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Chicago Tribune
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Letters: I don't need religion. I have the Golden Rule.
Regarding the op-ed 'Famous atheist's pivot doesn't surprise me as a pastor' (March 29): Wow! This pastor must live in a compartmentalized little world. I stopped fantasizing about my 'invisible friend' when I reached the age of reason in second grade. I owe my education to 18 years of instruction by the Ursuline Sisters, the Marist Brothers, the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. My two graduate degrees and doctorate, however, were earned in public institutions of higher education. The former 18 years required religion classes. I found the Bible stories fascinating, even the incestuous ones. I have three copies of this Iron Age plus Roman colonial era literature, plus other such tomes, including a Jesuit version of the Catholic Catechism. The more I learned, the less I believe in the supernatural. The Golden Rule, which is centuries older than Christianity, that's all-encompassing for little old me. — Carlos Valle, retired professor, Laredo, Texas Return to patriarchy Which society is more irresponsible? A bloodthirsty, primitive society for which the sight of a man nailed to crosswise timbers was routine? Or a modern society routinely placing statuettes of this man before its innocent children? As a child, I could never understand how Christians were blind to the sadistic atmosphere established at their church altars and in so many of their homes by the display of Christ on the cross. Of course, it can be very useful to have a population trying to atone for its 'original sin' by doing as it is told. I do not claim an established religion, having been raised by a former Catholic and a former Muslim to follow the Golden Rule. And as an adult, contrary to Pastor Mike Woodruff, who crows about atheist Richard Dawkins noting that religion is 'useful,' I find even less reason to do so now. What Woodruff, President Donald Trump and the religious right are celebrating is a return to patriarchal authoritarianism. These people adhere to the idea that the common person is weak, undisciplined and unable to decide things for himself or herself. Very handy view if you want to be a dictator, a king or a pastor. Unfortunately, this authoritarian nature predominates in American Christianity, despite the New Testament-zakat and sadaqah-tikkun olam kindness demonstrated by the Chicago faith leaders in their recent op-ed 'Millions of Illinoisans with criminal records deserve a clean slate' (March 30). The many, many generous, kind, faith-based Americans whose collective energies and wealth are directed toward charitable goals are being stymied today by this repressive religio-political alliance. I see religion being used, still, and most everywhere, as a tool of unethical, power-hungry individuals and states. I see it being used to destroy the humanity of peoples whom the current ruling structures see as threatening to their power and self-image. (Witness the current Israeli and American administrations.) I see it being used here in our once-relatively light-spirited country to stomp underfoot the dreams of brown and Black people and, of course, the Palestinians. As if doing so will uplift the rest of us. — Zenat Vakili, Naperville Religion's usefulness The question will never be between religion and no religion. So long as humans cannot live merely to eat, sleep and be merry, they will always gravitate toward one religion or another. Religion alone can offer them a purpose, a reason to live. People who love science, including me and far brighter heads such as Richard Dawkins and Bertrand Russell, might tend to lose themselves in science, the wonders that science illuminates and the application of the scientific method. For people like us, science is a blast. But, for that very reason, it can distract us from science's inadequacies. One thing science cannot do is to offer that sense of purpose that everyone needs. Pastor Mike Woodruff's op-ed states that self-avowed atheist Richard Dawkins has recently come out as a 'cultural Christian.' It may be that, even though he continues to detest organized religion in general, he has recognized that some religions are better than others and that, as far as religions go, Christianity is not too bad. If that is the case, I'm surprised it took him so long. Compared with the fundamentalism of al-Qaida or Hamas, the doctrines of the Bolsheviks, the nationalism of the Nazis or the sun god worship of the Aztecs, Christianity does indeed seem not too bad. My point, though, is that insofar as people fall away from one religion, they will gravitate toward others. They will always need religion. Some religions are better than others. Now, as for the question of whether Jesus really was who he said he was, why not look into it? According to Dawkins, it would appear, there are worse ways to spend your time. — Michael W. Drwiega, Wilmette Treatment of elderly The Illinois drivers service facility for senior citizens in suburban Westchester is the responsibility of the Illinois secretary of state. Driver's license renewal at that facility is the definition of irresponsible public service for senior citizens. After I waited a half hour on the sidewalk in the freezing cold, the rest of the process took a mere three hours. 'Where does this place store its victims when it rains?' asked the lady behind me. A month before my visit to this elderly-only facility, my wife's complaints of her experiences at the Westchester facility took on new clarity. It is unconscionable for a public service office, the Illinois secretary of state, to treat its senior population this way. The secretary of state himself will become a senior citizen and then perhaps realize how elderly people savor their final days. Three hours at a drivers service facility is not a distinctive choice. — William O'Neill, Chicago Bowling memories Thanks to Rick Kogan for the insightful article 'When billiards and bowling were all the rage' (April 1). My grandfather established the Hyde Park Bowl on Lake Street in the 1920s, with a pool room at street level and two upper levels of bowling alleys. In the 1940s, my aunt, who had been a Ziegfeld Follies girl working with Fanny Brice, ended up employed there, taking in the tickets and handing out bowling shoes. My father took over the Hyde Park Bowl and established the popular Bryn Mawr Bowl at 71st Street and Jeffery Boulevard, which had an open pool room on the upper level. In my high school years, I worked every Saturday behind the bowling counter, with friends begging me to put them higher up on the alley waiting list. Once, I set pins for the children's league, then went home and slept off that exercise. In all the decades, I remember that the guys who bowled or played pool were all respectful of the game, the equipment and our employees. Pickleball is fun, but it will never rise to the enjoyment of decadeslong camaraderie and laughter emanating from the South Side bowlers, the clack of the eight ball in the side pocket or the sound of the 15-pound ball knocking down all 10 pins. — Richard J. Aronson, Highland Park
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Brescia celebrates Founder's Day with centennial at Winter Convocation
Owensboro's Brescia University hosted its annual Winter Convocation ceremony on Tuesday, but this ceremony just so happened to be presented on the university's Founder's Day. And this year the school will celebrate its 100th anniversary of opening its doors. Brescia University, a Catholic university, was founded by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph as the Mount Saint Joseph Junior College for Women in 1925. Establishing the college was a way for the sisters to showcase their dedication to education. Following World War II, Owensboro expressed a need for co-educational extension courses and asked the Ursuline sisters to create a second campus site in downtown Owensboro. The two campuses consolidated in 1950 at the school's current location off of Frederica Street in downtown Owensboro. The Ursuline Sisters were founded by Saint Angela Merici who was known for her ministry of service to marginalized groups including the displaced, the poor, the orphaned and the sick. She saw women as a means to promote and provide change in a world seeking love, unity and harmony. Throughout the years, the sisters established themselves as educators and founded communities and schools to educate women and girls. Leading from the example set by Saint Angela Merici and the Ursuline Sisters, Brescia University has made its mission to provide students with a personal and social transformation through education. The school recognized two students, both a male and a female, with the Spirit of Angela Merici Award during the Winter Convocation. 'By recognizing these two students, we're paying homage to our roots and keeping with the tradition established by Saint Angela Merici,' said the school's vice president for student affairs, Lori Etheridge. This year's award recipients were Daniel Rusiecki and Sr. Chanh Ngo. 'These students exemplify the spirit of St. Angela through their service to others and to the entire community,' said Etheridge. Etheridge said that the selection process for this year's award recipients was 'tough' because 'many students are deserving of the honor.' Current Brescia president, Father Larry Hostetter, who will retire from his position at the end of the spring semester, said that the Spirit of Angela Merici Award is 'the most prestigious award for students' at Brescia. Twenty-four additional students were recognized as student leaders during the ceremony. 'Student leadership is valuable for a lifetime,' said Isaac Duncan, the assistant dean of students for student activities and leadership development. 'Leadership helps students to build valuable skills and achieve new heights.' Hostetter also discussed the school's centennial and introduced the university's new ceremonial mace, designed and crafted by Brescia alumnus Jim Barr. 'Our old one was getting worn out, so I thought it made sense to replace it during this year's centennial,' Hostetter said. 'And I want to thank Jim Barr on an excellent job.' Hostetter said that the mace features several important symbols for the university including four cords standing for the school's founding principles, laurel leaves for the Ursuline sisters and the addition of the colors blue and gold, the school's designated color scheme. Hostetter mentioned some positives for the university during his address to the crowd. 'I'm happy to report positive enrollment statistics and retention numbers at 91%,' he said. 'Those numbers show that we're moving in the right direction.' Hostetter also touched on a recent executive order to come from the Trump administration's White House which will issue a pause on federal grant spending. 'Luckily for Brescia, we don't have any big research grant funding that impacted,' he said. 'But I know everyone is worried about whether the executive order will affect student loans and the PELL Grant. And I can only say that we all hope it doesn't.' Hostetter said that Brescia students should face the current uncertain circumstances with fortitude, resilience and strength. 'I know how strong Brescia students are and I know that we have always adapted and overcome,' he said. 'And we will continue to do so because that's the Brescia way.' Brescia plans to have more events throughout the year to highlight its centennial celebration.
