When I went to the Homewood Arts Program show on parent's weekend, I didn't know that I was going to be a target of proselytizing. But even before Adoremus, JHU's Christian a cappella group, took the stage, they managed to make me, my company and, I venture to guess, a large proportion of the Shriver crowd a little uncomfortable.
Before I go any further, let me make very clear that I in no way wish to silence Adoremus, nor claim that they should not be allowed to perform on campus, for that would be a ridiculous notion. I do, however, believe that their aggressive attempts to proselytize should be left to their private concerts, and have no place in a University sponsored, community-wide event.
That the mission of Adoremus is to proselytize is clear from their write-up in the event's program. "Since its founding," its says, "the mission of Adoremus has been ... spreading G-d's Word to Johns Hopkins University and the world." When I go to a medley event of performance groups (like the O-Show, for those of you who missed it last weekend), I am not prepared, nor should I have to be, for a religious affront.
The group's performance (from what I gather from numerous conversations with other people who have seen them live) is almost always accompanied by acute discomfort among the members of the audience. To proclaim loud and clear that Jesus Christ will be my savior, and that he died for my sins, and to vividly describe the blood of Jesus Christ as he was crucified, is not only disrespectful of the religious diversity on this campus, but goes way beyond what should be deemed appropriate for a secular campus-wide event.
So where, you may ask, do we draw the line? At what point does a religious group's performance cross over from cultural appreciation to indoctrination?
Just a surface level comparison of the religiously and/or culturally affiliated performers at the Family Weekend show makes it clear. The JHU Gospel Choir bordered on inappropriate in their write-up, but managed to keep their performance quite acceptable. The program says the group "aims to ... provide a setting where people of all backgrounds, races and religions can grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ." While not quite as explicit as Adoremus, it still carries the feeling of trying to impose their own beliefs on the audience. The performance though, was less inflammatory, using "G-d" and "Lord" instead of Jesus Christ.
JOSH, the Indian dance troupe, is a wonderful example of cultural appreciation. Its members mix different styles of dance and music to share with, not impose upon, the Hopkins community.
But perhaps the most sensitive issue to now address is how Ketzev, the Jewish a cappella group on campus, fits into this scenario. Are they trying to spread the Jewish religion to unsuspecting Shriver patrons? Absolutely not. As the program makes clear, Ketzev's mission is "to share Jewish music" with the University and the surrounding Baltimore area.
The songs chosen by Ketzev are also in stark contrast to the type chosen by Adoremus. Unlike the insistence of salvation in Jesus Christ expressed by the former, the latter chose to sing a song about peace, the translation of which is "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore. " That seems a pretty rational and secular message to share to any sort of audience.
Let me reiterate that I do not think Adoremus, or any religious group, should be silenced. I do however believe that such groups must uphold a standard of tolerance and respect for all types of people that share this campus. If Adoremus would like to spread the Christian mission, they should reserve it for their own private concert. If they would like to perform in a non-religious setting, then they should choose songs more appropriate for the event. If I want Jesus to be my savior, I know where the closest church is -- I don't need to hear it coming from the Shriver stage.
Lisa Goldstein is a sophomore Economics major from Larchmont, N.Y.
