Truth or Veritas

Yesterday five student leaders of the United Ministry presented their arguments for University sponsored religion. They made two recommendations: courses in religion taught from the religious viewpoint; and religious counseling under the auspices of an official chaplain. Their three main arguments ignored what has been, and should continue to be, the University's policy toward special points of view.

As their first argument, they point to "the five thousand students who consider Christianity to be a form of Truth." From this they conclude that is is "unfair that Harvard, whose motto is Veritas, has not adequately presented this aspect of reality." The issue of whether reality is adequately presented at Harvard is a matter of definition. the empirical definition of reality is based on objectivity, the United Ministry's on belief. Under the former concept, teachers for any course, including those on religion, should be hired according to their ability to teach. Their beliefs are no substitute for this ability, whether five thousand students agree with them or not.

The second argument is that Harvard, as a "free-market for ideas," must present the Christian viewpoint. This presupposes that Harvard's "free-market of ideas" is merely a battleground of beliefs. It is no such thing; professors are hired to present a subject objectively in class and convictions are secondary.

The third argument is that local churches are unable to supply what they consider the proper amount of counseling. This is a poor argument for a University-sponsored chaplain. Students who seek religious guidance are able to find it; those who don't should be left alone.

The United Ministry's arguments attempt to justify preaching as a legitimate part of education and religious counseling as a legitimate part of advising, but they miss the point. Their first recommendation opposes Harvard's policy of hiring instructors on the basis of merit only. Their second recommendation, by proposing what amounts to a sales campaign for religion, opposes the Harvard policy of letting students decide for themselves such matters as religious convictions. In both cases we hope that the University will not change its policy.