Page 2 - Good News February 2005 paper

homas Aquinas wrote, "There various student offices and got "Mister, I didn't say 'religion'; I said
is within every soul a thirst for elected. It was great to know 'Jesus Christ.' " Taken aback by the
Thappiness and meaning." As everyone on campus, make impor- girl's courage and conviction, I
a teenager I exemplified this tant decisions, and spend the apologized for my attitude. "But I'm
statement. I wanted to be happy university's money doing what I sick and tired of religion and
and to find meaning for my life. I liked to do. But the thrill soon wore religious people," I added. "I don't
wanted the answers to three basic off, as with everything else I tried. want anything to do with it.”
questions: Who am I? Why am I Every Monday morning I would Then my new friends issued me a
here? Where am I going? These are wake up with a headache because challenge I couldn't believe. They
life's tough questions. I would of the way I had spent the previous challenged me, a law student, to
estimate that 90% of people aged nights. My attitude was, Here we go examine intellectually the claim
forty and younger cannot answer again, another five boring days. that Jesus Christ is God's Son. I
these questions. But I was thirsty to Happiness for me revolved around thought this was a joke. These
know what life was about. So as a those three party-nights: Friday, Christians were so dumb. How
young student, I started looking for Saturday, and Sunday. Then the could something as flimsy as
answers. whole boring cycle would start over Christianity stand up to an intellec-
Where I grew up, everyone seemed again. I felt frustrated, even tual examination? I scoffed at their
to be into religion. I thought maybe I desperate. My goal was to find my challenge.
would find my answers in being identity and purpose in life. But But they didn't let up. They
religious, so I started attending everything I tried left me empty and continued to challenge me day after
church. I got into it 150%. I went to without answers. day, and finally they backed me into
church morning, afternoon, and Around this time I noticed a small the corner. I became so irritated at
evening. But I guess I got into the group of people on campus: eight their insistence that I finally
wrong one, because I felt worse students and two faculty members. accepted their challenge, not to
inside the church than I did outside. There was something different prove anything but to refute them. I
About the only thing I got out of my about them. They seemed to know decided to write a book that would
religious experience was 75 cents a where they were going in life! And make an intellectual joke of
week: I would put a quarter into the they had a quality I deeply admire in Christianity. I left the university and
offering plate and take a dollar out people: conviction. I really like travelled throughout the United
so I could buy a milkshake! being around people with con- States and Europe to gather
I was brought up on a farm in viction, even if their conviction are evidence to prove that Christianity
Michigan, and most farmers are not the same as mine. There is a is a sham.
very practical. My dad, who was a certain dynamic in the lives of One day while I was sitting in a
farmer, taught me, "If something people with deep convictions, and I library in London, I sensed a voice
doesn't work, chuck it." So I enjoy that dynamic. within me saying, "Josh, you don't
chucked religion! But there was something more have a leg to stand on." I imme-
Then I thought that education might about this group that caught my diately suppressed it. But just
have the answer to my quest for attention. It was love. These about every day after that I heard
happiness and meaning. So I students and professors not only the same inner voice. The more I
enrolled at a university. What a loved each other, they loved and researched, the more I heard this
disappointment! You can find a lot cared for people outside their voice. I returned to the United
of things at university, but enrolling group. They didn't just talk about States and the university, but I
there to find truth and meaning in love; they got involved in loving couldn't sleep at night. I would go to
life is virtually a lost cause. others. It was something totally bed at ten o'clock and lie awake
I'm sure I was by far the most foreign to me, and I wanted it. So I until four in the morning, trying to
unpopular student with the Faculty decided to make friends with this refute the overwhelming evidence I
of the first University I attended. I group. About two weeks later, I was was accumulating that Jesus
used to buttonhole professors in sitting around a table in the student Christ was God's Son. I began to
their offices, seeking the answers cafeteria talking with some realize that I was being intel-
to my questions. When they saw me members of this group. Soon the lectually dishonest. My mind told
coming they would turn off the conversation got around to the me that the claims of Christ
lights, pull down the shades, and topic of God. I was pretty insecure
lock the door so they wouldn't have about this subject, so I put on a big
to talk to me. I soon realized that the front to cover it up. I leaned back in
university didn't have the answers I my chair, acting as if I couldn't care
was seeking. Faculty members and less. "Christianity, ha!" I blustered.
fellow students had just a many "That's for weaklings, not intellec-
problems, frustrations, and tuals." Down deep, I really wanted
unanswered questions about life as what they had. But with my pride
I had! and position I had at the University,
Quite a few years ago I saw a I didn't want them to know that I
student walking around a campus wanted what they had. Then I
with a sign on his back: "Don't turned to one of the girls in the
follow me, I'm lost." That's how group and said, "Tell me, what
everyone in the university seemed changed your lives? Why are you
to me. Education was not the so different from the other students
answer to my questions! and faculty members?" She looked
Prestige must be the way to go, I me straight in the eye and said two
decided. It just seemed right to find words I had never expected to hear
a noble cause, give yourself to it, in an intelligent discussion on a
and become well known. The university campus: "Jesus Christ."
people with the most prestige in the "Jesus Christ?" I snapped. "Don't
university, and those who also give me that kind of garbage. I'm fed
controlled the purse strings, were up with religion, the Bible, and the
the student leaders. So I ran for church." She quickly shot back,