UNDERGRADUATE CHRISTIANITY
SIR,—Mr. Howard, in his article on 'Under- graduate Christianity,' has given us a delight- fully entertaining account of his own views upon Oxford religion. However, for those unfamiliar with such a situation, we ought to point out that where he does give facts they are sometimes inaccurate, and that there is much that is entirely ignored. Between the harangue and hell-fire of St. Aldate's and the Victorian prayer books on velvet cushions in some college chapels, a great number of undergraduates give loyal and 'enthusiastic' support to the University Church and to the various free churches.
Mr. Howard has omitted all reference to the hundreds of students in the denomina- tional societies, none of which lays claim to Papal or Biblical infallibility. Bringing together all denominations, the Student Christian Movement combines both Catholic and Evan- gelical elements; it encourages all students to live, work, study, worship and witness to their common Lord. There must be no false 'dicho- tomy between Christian faith and academic study, but rather our faith should permeate and guide our whole lives.
Members of Mr. Howard's own college will no doubt be astonished to read of 'Under- graduate Christianity divided against itself'; in Christ Church, he may learn, there are exceed- ingly cordial relationships between the Senior Common Room and the various undergraduate Christian societies, which hold joint meetings every week.
As to the 'revival in religious interest' we might suggest to Mr. Howard that instead of standjng outside the football stadium, puzzled by the shouting, he should venture inside and find its cause.—Yours faithfully, Oriel College, Oxford Somerville College, Oxford
BRIAN PARSONS MARJORIE AITKEN Presidents, Oxford Student Christian Movement
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