Reed Secular Alliance

This past Thursday, the Reed Secular Alliance and Oh, For Christ’s Sake cosponsored the Christian documentary, “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers.”  The three hour event was a great success, as over 50 Reedies braved the cold Portland winter to spend an evening dedicated to a critical examination of the Culture Wars. 

While the film’s message – that we should get beyond hollow sound-bites and dedicate ourselves to the love of all peoples that Jesus embodies - had cross-denominational appeal, the Christian overtones sparked disagreement among audience members.  Reed Secular Alliance President Leslie Zukor asked whether the true goal of the film was to extol service – or to convert the audience to Christianity. 

“I do plenty of atheist charity work,” Zukor said during the Q & A.  “But I don’t do it to announce that I’m an atheist and win people over to secularism.”  Zukor’s brother also volunteered to build houses for Alternative Spring Break, but he didn’t need to announce his Jewish faith, Zukor explained.  The film’s producer, Dan Merchant, says that Zukor misinterpreted the film, and that the film’s only goal is to spark conversation. 

And if the goal was to start a dialogue, then “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers” was a resounding success.   After the event, discussion spilled over into the seats of Vollum Lecture Hall, as students debated whether a committed atheist and a devout Christian could be close friends. As a result of the film, Oh, For Christ’s Sake is even contemplating an “Ask a Christian” night, modeled on the popular “Ask an Atheist” panels at more religious counterparts to “Godless” Reed.  Hopefully, the Reed event was the beginning of more dialogue about religion at Reed.