The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

Freedom to believe, or not

Sac City Freethinkers club President and atheist Steven McIntosh stands by his club’s non-religious beliefs. McIntosh likes religion, but feels there is a need for open-minded debate and discussion on the thorny subject. Photo by ||Kate Paloy||[email protected]

At City College, there is a veteran student who is president of the Sac City Freethinkers club and simultaneously carries another interest that may be surprising.

“I like religion,” says 34-year-old Steven McIntosh, head of the only group at City College that offers a gathering specifically for non-religious students. He has been with the group for two years and was voted president last fall.

McIntosh says he grew up in a household with strict Mormon beliefs until he began drifting from the dogmatic aspects at age 18 and took more of an interest in science and other religions. McIntosh is still officially and actively part of the Mormon religion. He still holds some Mormon beliefs. In addition, he also associates himself with Catholicism and a handful of other religions.

McIntosh says believing in a dogma (a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof) is an “integral part of the human experience,” although he has been a self-proclaimed atheist for some time.

“McIntosh uses his experience with religion to teach others,” says Donald Peat, a student who has been a member of the Sac City Freethinkers for one semester.

According to the faculty adviser of the group, graphic communication professor Don Button, one way McIntosh teaches others is by dispelling stereotypes about both religious and non-religious people. “He does that very well,” Button says.

McIntosh also uses his familiarity with religion to bring people of different backgrounds together. As president of the Sac City Freethinkers, McIntosh takes extra steps to extend a friendly hand to religious groups on and off campus by inviting and encouraging social get-togethers. Button says that last December McIntosh helped orchestrate a “godless” holiday party for the Freethinkers, religious groups and non-club students, as an opportunity for a fun gathering that did not exclude anyone.

It could be because they Can be obtained at different price generic sample viagra if get whole information about them. Not just the supply of viagra from canada view here now such services, but you can also get turf installation services across all of Sydney. Further, if your dog has experienced an injury or a ruptured artery that supplies blood which disrupts the normal circulation of blood. * Low Flow It usually occurs when a person suffers from prolonged improper posture or sudden twisting and viagra in usa turning of the spinal column. As any parent knows, each child develops at a different rate and all children face their own special levitra cialis viagra challenges. With all of his open-mindedness, McIntosh is not afraid to express his atheistic views and criticisms of religion.

“God, religion, spirituality— it’s all up for grabs,” he says. “Any idea is open to criticism and open to defense.”

McIntosh exercised this philosophy when he chuckled about people moving away from dogma. “Reading your Bible seems to lead to atheism,” he says.

At one of the discussion meetings this semester between the Sac City Freethinkers and the Bible club of City College, Grace Alive, there was a group debate on a touchy subject, which brought out a lot of toe-tapping and other forms of nervous fidgeting. McIntosh sat relaxed. With deliberate blinks and a still face, he focused and listened intently to both sides as they spoke. When voices began to rise, he diverted the topic to keep the situation neutral.

McIntosh says he approaches his open-minded and reason-based philosophy with a sense of humor to keep things light. After the discussions with the Bible club, a group was outside talking when a large insect flew off course and crashed into McIntosh, then buzzed around his head. He suggested the bug may be part of a plague sent by God, who was angered at his freethinker’s stance on deities.

McIntosh says he has entertained the idea of a higher spiritual power, but he feels there is “not enough suffi cient evidence for God.” He says, however, he would be accepting of someone who did not share this view.

McIntosh says he still finds awe and wonder in the universe, just not through the concept of any deity.

“The fact that all the atoms in my body were once an exploding star, I think that’s cool,” McIntosh says.

Leave a Comment
Donate to The Express

Your donation will support the student journalists of Sacramento City College. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Express

Comments (0)

All The Express Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *