I’d rather be in hell

Nothing can ruin my ideal fall day.

I’ve zipped up my boots, my jeans are lined with flannel, my sweater is oversized and I’ve got a pumpkin spice latte in hand.

There’s a very obvious strut in my step as I make my way through campus to class.

But sure as the changing leaves, I hit that stretch of grass between Ballantine and Woodburn halls, and I’m greeted by religious crackpots telling me about my inevitable journey to hell.

During my freshman year, seeing these people degrading the masses of IU held entertainment value.

I was new to college and while I am from a very small religious Indiana town, I’d never seen someone so vigorously condemning people in the name of Jesus.
I always pulled my ear buds out and stopped to listen for a bit.

I found their signs, plastered with fun words like ‘Homosex’, hilarious.

There was one man who came with his family.

I always pictured him guarding the pearly gates of heaven, an air of Gandalf about him, yelling, “You shall not pass.”

Now during my third year at this University, I have a very different viewpoint.

Any time I’m approaching Woodburn and I see people grouped at that week’s current batch of crazy, I keep my sunglasses on and my ear buds in.

 If someone is taking the time to go and yell at college students for the way they dress or act, they’re clearly seeking the attention they lack in their own lives.

I, for one, am done giving it to them. Not only that, but they’re giving a bad name to Christians at large.

As someone who faced religious bullying growing up, I’ve never been extremely open to Christianity or any other form of worship.

I was raised to treat people’s beliefs with respect and hope they would return the same sentiment.  Evidently, this isn’t happening when these ‘preachers’ visit our beautiful campus.

Which is a shame because, by their own proclamations, Christians are supposed to be spreading acceptance and love to everyone, especially the sinners.

I wasn’t alive 2,000 years ago, but I’m pretty sure Jesus wasn’t standing around schools calling girls in a low cut shirts whores.

He probably had much better things to do.  But let’s look at the bright side.

If all us Hoosiers really are going to hell, maybe these religious tools won’t be there.

­— wdmcdona@indiana.edu