<p>is there some sort of secular student alliance on campus? how active are they? do they do dialogs and debates with religious clubs? im an agnostic, and ive never really joined such a thing, so that kind of org would interest me</p>
<p>btw i know this is kinda a stereotype, but would i be pestered constantly by proselytizers if i let my beliefs known?</p>
<p>I’m not a student there anymore, but even back in the late 80s and early 90s, I don’t ever remember being “pestered” by religious students, unless you consider a time when a student preacher and fellow students were doing their thing on the Quad. But really, that wasn’t pestering. However, should you want to explore religion, you will have lots of opportunities. The Religious Studies Dept. is a great resource for exploring religion from a secular viewpoint. </p>
<p>Given that UA now has over 30,000 students, I seriously doubt you will have trouble finding a rich diversity of opinion about religion. I know that there was an organization for atheists on campus at least one or two years ago. If you can’t find info on UA’s website, google UA atheists, and see what you find. </p>
<p>How do you define pestering? I think most students are not that religious, if that means very strict and judgemental. However, I would bet that most retain a core belief system about God, or Jesus, or doing unto others, etc. I’m sure that religion is a comfort for many on campus, but that does not mean they feel the need to pester anyone. Many religious people avoid “pestering” and instead believe that providing a good example is the ultimate way to proselytize. </p>
<p>Don’t forget that UA has a signficant number of Jews, Hindus, and Muslims too.</p>
<p>My kids are never pestered about religion. I don’t know of any “secular alliance” per se. There is some kind of atheist group/club on campus.</p>
<p>thanks guys!</p>
<p>i found a group on facebook…looking at their calendar, they seem pretty active…like they have at least two meetings per week
[Alabama</a> Atheists and Agnostics | Facebook](<a href=“Facebook Public Group | Facebook”>Facebook Public Group | Facebook)</p>
<p>
yes that is very true, and i admire people like that (who are in the majority), but occasionally i meet a person from some youth ministry that follows me around…i have a collection of little orange gideons bibles now :)</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Ha ha…</p>
<p>I can remember my days at UCI and there would be people on campus who would stand on little ladders reading bible passages out loud…weird…but this kind of stuff does happen in a free country…nearly everywhere. </p>
<p>At least now with added airport security, less of this stuff goes on in airports. </p>
<p>many/all of the various clubs/groups hand out “free stuff”…my kids have been given mugs, T-shirts, pens, pencils, flashdrives, etc. There is probably a group that hands out religious related stuff…but no big deal. You don’t have to accept anything that varous groups/clubs are handing out.</p>
<p>And…I agree…the best way to show your faith is to walk it…like Mother Teresa.</p>
<p>So you wanna debate Christians for what purpose? Why do you care if someone else wants to believe in God? </p>
<p>A “secular club”? What’s that, a group that goes around doing everything they normally do anyway? Hell just turn on the tv if you feel you need some support for your belief of non-belief.</p>
<p>Sounds to me like you want a religion on non-religion.</p>
<p>^aww cmon dude 
…though i cant say i didnt expect you to respond :P</p>
<p>a belief is not a faith…i am not bound to any precept…the irreligious that are faithful are the atheists, and that is part of the reason why i am not an atheist…an agnostic can say he believes or not believe in god…he can even be a part of a religion (though that wouldnt be irreligious)</p>
<p>i dont care if anyone believes in god…that’s their business…there’s no way to tell if He exists or not; i dont like arguing with and trying to “convert” people that dont believe what i do, that’s destructive…what i like is a dialog where everybody discusses their faith (or lack thereof) so we all understand each other…a debate is a good setting for that</p>
<p>i know that sounds corny, but it’s safe to say that certain christians hate atheists and certain (many) atheists hate christians…that needs to change</p>
<p>and yes, “secular club” does sound a little general lol :)</p>
<p>haha i may be an agnostic, but i think the worst people are the “humanists” who cant stand christmas music :P</p>
<p>AAA, as UA’s atheist, agnostic, and non-religious group is often called, is affiliated with the Secular Student Alliance. I invite you to attend a meeting/event when you’re visiting campus or as a college student next year.</p>
<p>Very rarely is there anyone proselytizing on or near campus. The Gideons were on campus passing out tracts for a couple of mornings last semester, but were not pushy at all. In the past some crazy preachers have came to campus and tried to make everyone on campus angry, but the main one is now banned from campus and this year’s was escorted off campus after a very short time for lack of a permit. As a whole, UA students are more religious than you would probably see at a public university in California or at Reed, but that is somewhat expected due to UA’s geographical location. You shouldn’t have to worry about people trying to convert you or anything like that. Like anywhere, the topics you discuss in conversation will depend on the people you are talking with. For example, conversations with close friends are usually quite different from those you’ll have with a cashier at a grocery store.</p>
<p>Also, you may be interested to know that agnosticism and atheism are on different, albeit closely related spectrums (gnosticism/agnosticism and theism/atheism, respectively) and that where a person happens to be on one spectrum doesn’t mean that they are at a certain place on the other spectrum.</p>
<p>thanks SEA_tide! :)</p>