The Chronicle: Colloquy: Responses

As the bastion of independent, critical thinking and free speech, I find it unconscionable that universities find it necessary to censor unconventional ideas and beliefs offered by alternative religious groups. Since when is it the objective of academic institutions to protect legal adults from unpopular ideas? This kind of paternalism smacks of indoctrination uncharacteristic of the very principles taught in the classroom. Constitutional and ethical issues aside, the fear-mongering about so-called cults is unfounded. If one looks carefully at the proponents of control, one sees the orchestration of this effort by individuals aligned with the anticult movement carrying out a campaign of disinformation, unscientific allegations about new religions, and a frightening moral crusade to implement a particularistic moral vision of society that runs counter to cultural/religious pluralism and diversity. Anytime naysayers begin to warn us about "dangerous" ideas, we should be alert to the McCarthy-like implications. The campus should be the first place to recognize such scare tactics and the last place to endorse censorship.

: -- Stuart A. Wright, Professor of Sociology, Lamar University (posted 8/20, 2:14 p.m., E.D.T.)

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