Why Harvard is Anything But Godless
Many Harvard professors and students are oblivious to the level of religious devotion that exists at their university. In fact, most people, Harvard affiliated or not, are unaware of the profound faith that can be found on campus, erroneously considering the school to be fairly “irreligious.” However, according to Stephen G. Mackereth – a talented new writer for The Harvard Crimson, and a Christian Union ministry member – Harvard is anything but godless.Mackereth highlights his own faith experiences at Harvard and explains how this precipitated a close relationship with God. “Though I came from an Anglican family, it was here that the old creeds and old hymns to God in the Highest first really came to life for me. Since then, I have been an active member of the Christian student community on campus,” he writes.
Mackereth also expresses concern that current Christian sentiments have lost much of their richness and gravitas. The word “sin,” for example, typically elicits egregious stereotypes: either the image of a guilt-stricken Christian beating himself up over culturally-accepted behavior, or a cartoonish vision of fiery judgment. The truth is that Christianity has a much more nuanced and discerning view of sin, which, when properly understood, is much more liberating.
“Some, trying to understand the ancient appeal of Christ, have relearned the ancient language of sin and grace, providence and glory,” says Mackereth. “[They] found that the forms of the modern world also clicked, bright and quivering, into place under that eternal light.” In short, Christianity recognizes the need to collectively hold on to the vivid beliefs of the past, lest we lose the present as well.Christianity is not an outdated concept; rather, it is as fresh and restorative as ever, as those who earnestly seeking God come to find. As St. Augustine of Hippo famously said, “our hearts are restless till they rest in You.” This freeing sentiment is just as true today as it was when he wrote it over 1500 years ago.
Stephen Mackereth is an alumnus of Harvard Faith & Action, a Christian leadership development organization resourced by Christian Union. His new column in The Harvard Crimson is explicitly focused on Christianity at Harvard and provides insight into his own experiences. Be sure to read more from Mackereth here.
