Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-29
GNU Policy

wv Why
Would the critics have been
equally vocal in their protests
against academic freedom" if
DR.. Marvin had said he would
not appoint a fool to a position
on the GNU faculty? To be
consistent they would have to
do so, or they would have to
differ from King David who
twice wrote: 1.-THE fool hath
said in his heart, there is no
God."
If DIR. Marvin were operat-
ing a restaurant, presumably
his critics would cry out
against his violation of "culi-
nary freedom" If he should
announce that he would not
employ q cook who did not
believe arsenic in food is
poisonous; but doubtless his
customers would unanimously
approve such a policy. And
doubtless the customers of his
university-parents who are
entrusting their sons and
daughters to his oversight dur
ing their formative years
unanimously approve his policy
Of protecting his students from
the dangers Of mental and
spiritual poison.
In God we trust, yet.
A. G. Murray.
Many good people will be
shocked by the appalling spec
tacle of a man who, while en-
joying the rights and privileges
Of an ordained minister, asserts
that disbelief In God is per-
fectly all right, and who adj
vocateS that our young people
should be taught and guided
by atheists. Many viii doubt
the wisdom of DR.. A. Powell
Davies anomalous position
and will suspect that his
pseu d o-VoItairian liberalism
reveals either q desire for per-
sonal notoriety or that it is an
expression of utterly confused
thinking.
Reader.
I disagree most heartily with
DR.. A. Powell Davies when he
states that, Every university
should have at least one or
two atheists on its faculty"
! do not believe that there is
any place on a school faculty
for atheists or Communists.
I do not believe they should
be placed in a position where
they can influence young
minds.
AS DR.. Davies says, God
needs no projections" How
ever. all the juvenile records
Of this country prove that the
young do need protection from
warped minds and warped
teachings. They need to be
surrounded with all possible
wholesome influences.
CORTLAND d. Ferguson.
4 = 4 4
DR.. A. Powell Davies offers
unreasoning advice when he
assails DR.. Marvin, head Of
George Washington University,
and advocates that CIV and
all universities have atheists.
on their faculties to keep the
theists stepping lively"
DR.. Davies has a political
right to stand on his own head
and to worship where and
when and what he pleases.
But what kind of fools does
Mr.. Davies think that we are,
to be silent while he defames
Washington and Jefferson?
What corruption IL Is for him
TO call them atheists, when
both spoke 50 often Of God and
did so much TO promote re-
ligionl
Charles b. PhiIibert.
= -
With singular inappropri-
ateness at q celebration Of
Religion IN Life Week" and
during the very week when we
were celebrating the flight Of
the Pilgrims to avoid religious
persecution. DR.. Marvin pro-
poses religion as one Of the
tests Of q persons fitness TO
hold . Job.
Surely atheism or agnosti-
cism are both, to their follow
ers. as much a religion" in
It's broadest sense as Presby-
terianism Is 10 a Presbyterian.
Religious freedom, a. ! UNDER
stand 1t. Is not primarily for
the majority, but freedom for
those with whom we disagree.
Ideally. a university should
be the one arena where truth
u sought through the free
competition Of ideas. No uni
versity faculty Is complete
without at least one balanced,
judicious agnostic or atheist.
Only BY being exposed 10 OPP
posing ideas can we try and
test the bases Of our con-
clusions.
Even faith unchai1nnoed