[ April 24, 2024 ]
The organizers of this year’s fair at Balliol College — an Oxford school — have banned the Christian Union from participating out of concerns of alienating those of other religions.
The organizers said Christianity has been historically used as “an excuse for homophobia and certain forms of neo-colonialism,” and that students — particularly those of other faiths — might feel “unwelcome” and offended if the Christian Union were given a stall.
Can you imagine if the school banned a booth organized by Muslims?
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The Express has the story:
Freddy Potts, vice-president of Balliol’s Junior Common Room (JCR) committee, said the presence of a CU representative at the fair could cause “potential harm” to freshers.
He told Lucy Talbot, the College’s CU representative, their “sole concern is that the presence of the CU alone may alienate incoming students”.
Balliol, founded in 1263, boasts an impressive alumni, including three former prime ministers – Herbert Asquith, Harold Macmillan and Sir Edward Heath.
In an email to Ms Talbot, Mr Potts, who was part of the College’s champion University Challenge team in April, wrote: “This sort of alienation or micro-aggression is regularly dismissed as not important enough to report, especially when there is little to no indication that other students or committee members may empathise, and inevitably leads to further harm of the already most vulnerable and marginalised groups.
“Historically, Christianity’s influence on many marginalised communities has been damaging in its methods of conversion and rules of practice, and is still used in many places as an excuse for homophobia and certain forms of neo-colonialism.”
He claimed banning the group from the fair “may be a way of helping to avoid making any students feel initially unwelcome within Balliol”.
Mr Potts swiftly changed his tune after initially saying the JCR committee wanted the fair to be a “secular space” as he “couldn’t guarantee every major belief system” would have a stall at the fair, so students of other religions may “suffer” if they were not represented.
He added: ““Many students, especially students of colour and of other faiths, may already feel alienated and vulnerable in Oxford, a university with a reputation for racism and lack of diversity, and a city with barely any appropriate places of worship for non-Christians.
“Hopefully, as people of faith, you may be able to empathise with this, and we ask you to consider from a place of compassion the potential harm to those freshers who are already severely and harmfully disadvantaged.”
He later changed his mind and said he would allow a “multi-faith” stall at the fair.
However, CU students were still banned from physically attending and distributing leaflets.
Students have criticised the College, saying the move is a “violation of free speech”.
Dr Joanna Williams, a university lecturer and author of Academic Freedom in an Age of Conformity, said: “I would argue that a university would be an ideal place for students to explore their religious beliefs.
“The idea that some religions are not allowed to be represented really prevents students being able to do that. It seems completely bizarre, I am lost for words.”
The JCR passed a motion on Sunday evening condemning the committees for “barring the participation of specific faith-based organisations”.
They said the ban was a “violation of free speech, a violation of religious freedom, and sets dangerous precedents regarding the relationship between specific faiths and religious freedom”.
A Balliol College spokesman said: “We are pleased to see that the students themselves have now resolved this matter. Following last night’s JCR motion, the Christian Union will be offered a stall at future freshers’ fairs.”
Despite the seemingly intolerant ban the spokesman described the college as ‘tolerant’.
“Balliol is a tolerant, friendly college where students of all faiths and none are free to worship and express their beliefs openly.”
In January the University of Oxford refused to bow to demands from student campaigners calling for the removal of all statues, especially the Cecil Rhodes statue at Oriel College, and paintings, and renaming of buildings named after colonialist figures.
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36 Comments
6 years ago
There goes another famous institution down the drain
6 years ago
Reply to
Schaps
From a first rate educational institution to the gutter of a madrassa, how the mighty have fallen. Now known as “ox brain” madrassa, soon to be graduating terrorists and welfare beggars. The pinnacle of britisstinian society today.
6 years ago
The ban may ‘alienate’ some of the thousands of alumni who donate funds to the place.
6 years ago
Reply to
Mullah Lodabullah
Left/Liberal/feminazis will impose sharia everywhere if there is no resistance to such stupidity.
Just like they banning a Model on Instagram for being too hot and sexy http://bit.ly/2v09Kyv
CAN IT get more Ridiculous ?
6 years ago
Reply to
Suresh
And she is hot but I do not fancy blond women, nevertheless I would not mind she popped by tonight.
6 years ago
Reply to
Mullah Lodabullah
If only. There must be a God in this world, because some things are too mysterious to understand otherwise. How can the British, the cradle of the English speaking peoples, the greatest and most beneficial people in the history of the world, be so intent on destroying themselves—FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER?!!
6 years ago
That little ‘bit’ at the end TERRIFIED me. If Europe goes after its statues and art etc. out of political correctness we are self-screwed forever.
6 years ago
oxford college has evolved into another madrassa where education is trivial, the memorization of the qur’an is the only thing that is taught. britanistan is a total write off, no point in wasting time trying to help it, as it had made the decision to follow islam.
6 years ago
Believing that homosexual acts are wrong, that marriage is for a man and a woman, that abortion is evil and that Islam is not a religion of peace are not homophobia, misogyny or Islamophobia. Disagree with the left and you are branded and shut down. It saves them having to supportt their deranged feelings.
6 years ago
Reply to
Bill Kelly
believing in traditional marriage is no less an authentic belief than believing gays should marry . none of them should be criminalized and penalized . the dislike of homosexual lifestyles by conservatives is no less valid than the dislike of conservative ideals by some gays.
6 years ago
Reply to
balafama
The two beliefs are not equal.
One set of beliefs leads to a society where people live longer lives, are not nearly as prone to STDs, produce and raise children, (who are needed if society is to survive) and take care of their own elderly, not to mention the myriad mental, and physical, and spiritual benefits of being married to the opposite sex.
Did you know that, on average, homosexuals live about 25 years less than people living God’s plan? (One man, one woman, for life. Yes, I know other lifestyles are mentioned in the Bible….show me the verses that support this.) These unions can not produce children naturally, and surely anyone can see this will lead to societal failure. Children are our future, is not just an expression… there really is no future without them.
6 years ago
Reply to
Mary
please reread my comments .i am not against traditional marriage nor do i personally support gay marriage .
6 years ago
Reply to
Mary
Do you know how much longer people would live on average if we banned alcohol and tobacco?
And homosexuals don’t really produce children by default.
There is not really any pragmatic reason to not let homosexuals marry.
Two consenting adults should be allowed to arrange their private lives how they please as long as it does not harm others.
6 years ago
Reply to
balafama
Except that conservatives are supported by logic, science and thousands of years of common practice while leftist beliefs are about feelings. Marriage has always been the institution that produced and nurtured future generations. Gay marriage cannot naturally do that regardless of how unfair you feel it is. Show me scientific proof that there is a point at which life begins other than at conception and don’t tell me about your feelings. According to you if anyone believes that it’s ok to kill you they should have the right. liberalism is truly a mental disorder. Get help
6 years ago
Reply to
Bill Kelly
did you really read my comments or you have a serious issue with comprehension. ? i’m actually speaking up for conservatives. the context of this discussion is about thoughts not actions you cant police thoughts just because u dont like them.dude get a grip.
6 years ago
Reply to
Bill Kelly
So? Whats the harm of anyway not child producing people having not child producing marriages?
6 years ago
Right, the events in Florida sure make Islam a nice religion to gays and what’s happening in Europe is nothing but neocolonialism…
lies lies lies….
6 years ago
we might as well ban the entire europe for its christian heritage, i dare say i find the name “freddy talbot” evocative of british colonialism and christian oppression so he or zhe or zhem should be removed from the position of vice president and replaced with a mohamed abdulahi ,now thats a really safe and comforting name . the bullshit just never stops .
6 years ago
Young Mr Potts has glimpsed the sheer black lace of power and it’s gone straight to his teeny tiny weeny, unfortunately the transfer of minute quantities of blood has caused what passes for his brain to “malfunction”, he’s competing with American places of higher learning in seeing who comes out with the most stupid statements and the most snowflakes looking for safe spaces.
Sorry America, you own the concept of PC, { I seem to remember the Dirty Harry films and CE railing against it in the mid 70’s}. Higher education today is sometimes misnamed.
6 years ago
basically these goons are saying christianity oppressed people in the past ,so its time to oppress christians.how is that from same goons who are always chanting about equality and social justice .
what on earth did hitler do to europe? did the nazis inject some moronic gene into the european populace b4 they fell?
6 years ago
Face palm … we really do live in the age of Newspeak.
6 years ago
Can’t talk about different (actually traditional) ideas on campus. You have to think with a tolerant (to anything but British values) totalitarian leftist view. If you don’t want to change Britain into another backward country then I’ll have a tantrum.
6 years ago
The left is open and tolerant … to those who agree with them, of course.
So interesting. Islam specifically calls for death, by any means, to Jews, Christians, all non-believers who choose not to convert to a life of hell. Islam calls for the death of gays. Lashes teens for kissing in public, or even holding hands. Women are mere objects, per the Koran.
In mosques everywhere, the daily prayer calls for death to Jews and Christians. And Muslims have, throughout history, killed hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
Muslims detest gays, kill them …
One would think that Islam is the one that might make others ‘uncomfortable’ — um, you want to cut my head off if I don’t convert, right? … right-o, mate … gee, that makes me, um, uncomfortable … well, you see, you are an Islamophobe, and we are going to put you in prison now (where the Muslims in there will kill you).
The attack on Christianity continues unabated. Hold on to our faith in God and Jesus, and hold on to our guns.
6 years ago
Leftist atheists talk out of both sides of their mouth when the condemn Christian neo-colonialism on the one hand while ignoring ongoing islamic colonialism/imperialism on the other.
6 years ago
was that last name Potts or Putz?
6 years ago
With this submissive, slave mentality, the UK deserves to be run over by the primitive / barbaric / anti Christian / Antisemitic / blood thirsty muslims…
The UK has become a nation of gimps…
6 years ago
The reigning Monarch has, as one of her titles “Defender of the faith” at on time that referred to the Anglican version of Christianity. Now, apparently, it means let islam run rough shod over everything that britain ever was. Like the pope, the queen has capitulated to islam. The sun has set, in a muddy pool over the britishstinians.
“Balliol is a tolerant, friendly college where students of all faiths and none are free to worship and express their beliefs openly”. Yes, islam is clearly demonstrated in statements indicating that the muslim practice of taqiyya is quite acceptable and endorsed. Very nice sloughing off the issue of Christian participation by making lying about “future fairs” The bull islam is thick around oxford.
6 years ago
It’s all a function of money as you can be certain that oil money played a role here. I just wish I could hear the excuses the board told themselves when they agreed to the ban.
6 years ago
I just wonder how the subject Divinity is treated there now. I can imagine the changes. Nothing like a cancer at the heart of UK Christianity.
6 years ago
So your “alienating” Christians from their own Fair??? WTF??? Who comes up with these stupid ideas??
The mentally-ill lieberal, sir. Thank you!
6 years ago
“Alienating”? Look who’s talking.
6 years ago
Lets face the truth.
Religion is a faith in a mystical being and mankind’s perception of that being has been shaped by a few people.
There have been over 2500 deities mentioned so far in history.
Which one,if any,is really not a fictional character ?
Yes, something created our known universe, but what / who created the creator?
Mankind’s obsession with attempting to define both the look and the mind of their chosen God and then present that as fact to others is at best just a delusion and at worst a calculated way to control the masses.
Perhaps those with a faith ought to be considered as gullible followers of whoever is the most convincing.
We all have an opinion.
6 years ago
Reply to
uksnapper
Seek the real living God while he may still be found. Your unbelief does not alter the truth.
6 years ago
Oxford has given herself a black eye. For decades an institution that accommodated all stripes and colours, is now, like the rest of UK elites, controlled by Muslims and their converts.
6 years ago
Before Obama, Christians were generally of as God fearing, upstanding, a value to communities and natural leaders. After Obama, they’ve become more and more reviled, ostracized and persecuted.
