Religious activist sparks debate

A lone sign stands above a crowd of enraged students. \nThe man holding the sign is no longer visible, but his message is crystal clear. \n"I'm here to preach the word of God," 21 year-old Nathan Lewis said. "What these young people do with it is up to them."\nThe message seems simple enough, but Lewis' choice of delivery in the heart of campus Tuesday drew more than 100 students. And the young people decided to take the message and throw it back in his face.\nThe police were called to the scene.\n"I feel like I'm not dealing with a normal human being," said senior Shahaab Uddin. \n"No, I'm not normal because Jesus Christ lives in my heart," Lewis returned.\nThe debate intensified.\n"Does the Bible tell you to hate people?" Uddin said.\n"Yes. It does," Lewis fired back.\nThe crowd erupted into a frenzy before Lewis had time to explain himself.\nThe entire ordeal began with far fewer students, but far heightened emotions. During the course of Lewis' proclamations, a small group of Muslim students approached him regarding what they felt to be a hurtful large sign. Uddin led the group.\n"This all started with the sign," he said. "That is just disrespectful to any person."\nUddin said he walked up to Lewis to discuss the sign when Lewis stepped forward and bumped him. From there the matter escalated until police were called in and separated the two. Lewis described the altercation as a "natural occurrence."\n"I saw all the young people here from all over the world with their own beliefs walking down the wide path to hell," Lewis said.\nThe group of Muslim students felt Lewis was simply using the altercation as a means to spread his hateful message, and that the University needs to take action.\n"Spreading his message by any means is his goal," Uddin said. "Someone needs to send a message to the University to take action."\nWhen protests or proclamations spun out of control in the past, the police have stepped in to move those involved to Dunn Meadow. A protest, rally or demonstration would typically be asked to move if the actions disturb the academic environment.\n"It usually requires a police officer to determine (if the protest) is becoming a disruptive situation for classes," said Dean of Students Richard McKaig. "Whether it be because of size, noise or anything then the University suggests them moving to Dunn Meadow."\nIn 2001 a similar incident occurred when a man known as "Preacher Dan" camped out behind Woodburn Hall and initiated a similar altercation. The University eventually asked him to move his demonstrations to Dunn Meadow. \nAn anti-abortion rally in the late '90s also suffered a similar fate after students and staff were disturbed by pictures of aborted fetuses.\nWith an incident such as Tuesday's, the Office of Student Affairs has to make a judgment between free speech and a threat, McKaig said.\n"Usually a threat has to be something targeted at specific person with a perception of violence following it," he said. \nAs the crowd began to dwindle, and Lewis' efforts turned more toward defending his stance, senior Lane Bowman stepped forward and grabbed the Bible clutched in Lewis' right arm. He thumbed the pages and read, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."\n"Just the truth is only half of God's heart," Bowman said. "If God is loving, it is impossible for him to hate."\nFor Uddin, the line between freedom of speech and threatening other religions was crossed when the topic of conversation shifted from "truth," "grace" and "love" -- to hate.\n-- Contact Sports Editor Brain Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.