Students Have Passion for Doing Good

By Sarah Van De Weert on June 1, 2013

Scrolling through the newsfeed on my Facebook page, like I usually do, I stumbled across this article in the Huffington Post with a headline that really confused me: Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics.

Wait.  Atheists who do good are redeemed?!  This coming out of the Pope’s mouth?! My brain is still trying to comprehend what in the world this means.  What, I think, is even more shocking is that Gettysburg students have a passion for doing good that overcomes every theological boundary, to the point where, atheists are identifying what the Pope is saying as truth!

Theologically, I disagree on many levels with what the Pope is saying.  As a person, though, I understand the point that he is trying to make, and upon sharing this article with Gettysburg friends, it was reinforced.  The Pope is trying to emphasize that good deeds should be done regardless of beliefs.  For example, if one is in Africa trying to educate children and prevent the spread of AIDS simply because they think that it should be done, Christians should not stop them from doing so simply because they are not doing it in the name of Jesus.

That makes me question, then, why the need for separate belief systems– why is it that everyone does not simply do good without there having to be a god of some sort?

I think it is because belief systems are crucial in determining what is good and what is bad.  I mean, if we did not have and believe in the legal system, what is to stop one from saying that murder is good and not bad?

From what I have seen, the majority of Gettysburg students are pretty ambivalent about any faith in any spiritual realms.  Those that are actively and passionately engaged in religious matters are not always welcomed eagerly.

But yet, Gettysburg students have a passion for doing good.  They are actively involved in the Center for Public Service or Alpha Phi Omega or giving back in other ways to the community, the campus, and the nation.  They are advocates for social justice.  They fight so that what they identify as “good” can triumph over what they believe to be “bad.”

Faith?  It’s one thing that Gettysburg has always left out of its activism and service.  And Gettysburg students are definitely excited to see that finally the Catholic church is starting to come around to this very principle and agree that improving the world is what is most important.

After all, it is not faith that determines one’s goodness.  It is the doing of good works that makes one good.

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