Diccu's "Rescue" week

What are everyone's thought's on the Christians Union's 'Rescue' campaign?

I'm a little worried by it considering the arguments given at the talks (being an Atheist that's sort of a given) although the historical considerations of the bible were interesting and well presented by the speaker (Monday's talk).

I'm a little shocked that there's no university-wide Secular Society to counter the campaign, so I'm considering starting one (anyone interested?).

Reply 1

RobbieC

15

To be fair, what the hell is this?

Reply 2

Spam-mi-am

OP

"Rescue" is basically a week of intensive campaigning on the part of DICCU (Durham Inter-Collegic Christian Union) to evangelise as many people as possible. Unfourtunatly, there's no real organized effort (to my knowledge) to challenge this in any effective way.

Reply 3

cobra

14

The campaign is something about everyone including the society not being true enough to god so they are reescuing them and us if we choose to obey god.

as an aside I should point out this is a society with questionable morals, there are 2 christian unions, this one was expelled from the dsu several years ago when it launched a pray away the gay campaign, it was only reallowed to join this year. The other christian union is much more normal and promotes values which christians or not can identify with

Reply 4

RobbieC

15

Maybe there should be some kind of opposition to this. Then again, these are the kinds of people that often need to be ignored until they go away.

Reply 5

Fields

13

I'm a Christian, but I disagree with DICCU. In fact, I'm quite offended by it. I mean, what the **** are they trying to 'rescue' people from? I thought part of Christianity (at least for me) is to respect other beliefs.

Reply 6

Spam-mi-am

OP

cobra

as an aside I should point out this is a society with questionable morals, there are 2 christian unions, this one was expelled from the dsu several years ago when it launched a pray away the gay campaign, it was only reallowed to join this year. The other christian union is much more normal and promotes values which christians or not can identify with

I knew there were two CUs but I didn't know the first was kicked out due to a "pray away the gay" campaign, LOL. That's appalling!

Just so I can get my facts straight, what's the official name of the second CU?

Reply 7

Heavs

3

If they want to run an "introduce people to Christianity" let them. If the Islamic society, Jewish Society, Bhudism society, Secular society, wants to run the same thing let them as well. Just don't say there HAS to be the opposing view running at the same time. People aren't forced into going and if they don't like it they can leave. Don't get offended simply because its Christian. I'm not in DICCU, but I get annoyed because if any of the above societies ran similar things no one would be "worried" about it.

Reply 8

Talya

16

It's a shame they are doing it this year and not next year. I'd have loved to walk past them and thrown holy water at them to see if they'd burn... Hmm.

You shouldn't try to 'rescue' anyone. Let them come to you.

Reply 9

Heavs

3

Yes and if you don't run these campaigns how do they get the oportunity to come to you? It's hardly all over Durham, just a few posters and leaflets around. I don't agree with a lot of their methods and I don't think the name was well chosen but they're hardly brainwashing Durham with it.

Reply 10

Spam-mi-am

OP

Heavs

If they want to run an "introduce people to Christianity" let them. If the Islamic society, Jewish Society, Bhudism society, Secular society, wants to run the same thing let them as well. Just don't say there HAS to be the opposing view running at the same time. People aren't forced into going and if they don't like it they can leave. Don't get offended simply because its Christian. I'm not in DICCU, but I get annoyed because if any of the above societies ran similar things no one would be "worried" about it.

1) DICCU is different. Incase you haven't notice Durham is a massively Christian place and DICCU have alot of influence within that community.

2) I'm opposed to any ideology or methodology which dissuades it's members from challenging their own beliefs in a rational way (I admit I don't actively apply this as rigerously to the Jewish/Islamic/Buddhist Society because I know less about them and because they have less influence).

3) DICCU's approach is what I'm offended at not the fact that they wish to 'help people through God' (or however you see it). It's their "Rescue Mission" approach that offends me.

Reply 11

Spam-mi-am

OP

My point is just as much that we need a Society to organize Secularists/Rationalists/Humanists, etc...

Reply 12

Piggsil

16

People got similarly pissed off at DICCU this time last year as well, they were handing out fliers which offended people. I can't remember exactly what they said though. This week is known as 'mission week' and it happens every year. You just have to ignore it if it upsets you, it's only for a week.
Although, the RESCUE stash is quite cool.....

Reply 13

Heavs

3

Spam-mi-am

My point is just as much that we need a Society to organize Secularists/Rationalists/Humanists, etc...

I wouldn't disagree with that, if someone wanted to set it up, go for it. It's just by telling Diccu they can't campaign or try and get people interested, people then become kinda hypocritical when they say other religious/aetheist Socs must be allowed to. It's kind of like Christianity is singled out for scorn. Yes I find Diccu's "no room for doubt or discussion" approach wrong, but they should be allowed to do so. And people are free to ignore it.

Reply 14

arkbar

12

I have only ever seen girls wearing Rescue stash, bizarro-pizarro.

Reply 15

Mattmoy_2000

9

Personally I find the "Rescue" campaign patronising and insulting. I deliberately chose not to be a Christian (or a Muslim, Hindu etc etc) because I didn't agree with blindly accepting what somebody told me. I don't accept that I need rescuing because I don't accept that there's anything for me to need rescuing from.
I think that the next time someone tries to "rescue" me I might just go and tell them exactly what I think...
I'm very up for being in a secular(ist) society if someone's organising it.
Gott ist tot.
(If you're going to post something about that last line, click here first.

Reply 16

Spam-mi-am

OP

I'm seriously considering setting a Secular Society up. We need thirty people or so (or is that just people who should be interested?) in order to start one, though. Although I already know a load of people who a staunch securalists and already active around Durham in debates, etc, and so they'd probably want to get involved if they thought it'd really happen. Anyway, send me a message if you're interested and I'll try a gauge the levels of interest in such a society.

Reply 17

socialist cook

8

I didn't know there were two Christian Unions. But I do have a few things to say about the current one.

Firstly it is not affiliated to the DSU for two reasons, firstly because it doesn't allow or rather promote women in exec positions. Secondly, it excludes certain Christian denominations such as Catholicism, because apparently they see it as not being purely based on scripture. *Ie the idea that Catholics are influenced by the Vatican, well this one isn't at all!!!*

Incidentally I went to a CU organised event last night at Grey, as housemates of mine had a friend playing in a band there. Luckily we were only there for a short 'questions and answer' section. I had bones against the man answering suggesting that Christianity was the right religion because it was based on historical fact- and not suggesting it may have happened but may also be interpreted by the writers of the Gospels in their own way. He also referred to non Christians as heathens, and if that's not fundamentalism speaking, I don't know what is.

I'm absolutely appalled at the blatant homophobia Oli was telling us about earlier too. *Although don't get me started on how homophobic and sexist the Catholic Church is either*

Saying that the music was good, and they gave us free crisps.

Also one disclaimer I have to put in is that: I know a few people who are in the CU and are normal and not at all fundamentalist. It's just a shame that a small minority should tar the rest of the membership with the same brush.