PAGE FOUR
This Thing Religion
Like the Peace Corps, religion is a personal thing. It must be con-
sidered in light ofthecontemporaryphilosophy so touchingly referred
to as “doingyour own thing.” Naturally, ina jet-propelled society sucfc
as ours, the importance and particularly the relevance of the time
honored concepts of religion are undergoing a thorough examination.
Because every tradition is now being viewed in a totally new pers-
pective, religion must also lend itself to such interrogation.
On both the national and international scene, people are exhibit-
ing their restlessness in various ways. As a result of the questions
concerning the relevance of God, there have erupted many pseudo,
philosophers who feel that God is dead. They preach about how His
place is really not that of Head of the universe. The importance of
man as a self-sufficient being is emphatically procalimed. These
atheistic thinkers obviously feel that the human race can exist
quite well without Him, Yet, these very same people often resort
to such things as cults and mysticism. They allow their dress to
serve as further evidence of their disapproval of the conformity to
established religious views. But the ironic thing is that their out-
ward appearances usually reflect some biblical garb, such as the
long flowing robes, the sandals, beards, and other attire that is
associated with religion. In an effort to find something on which to
rely for guidance they fabricate people like personal gurus. Perhaps
the things that are really contra^ctions of atheistic declarations are
feeble attempts to convince the dissenters themselves that what they
preach is right. Surely anyone who is quite steadfast in his beliefs,
whether they be for or against an established norm, should need no
outward manifestations such as these.
On the other hand, there are those who are comfortable in their
religious beliefs. They usually attend church regularly, pay their dues
on time, and provide the necessary facade of a Christian in society
today. These people are usually compromising on any question re-
lating to the aspects of theology, whether they are in complete agree
ment or not. That they may not even fully comprehend what is being
proposed is of no consequence. The main object, for such people, is
to go along with what is considered the correct manner and idea. The
sad part about such individuals is that they are often so unsteady in
their convictions that they cannot tolerate anything that suggests ad
verse implications of any kind. They sometimes even refuse to par-
ticipate in harmelss debates concerning religious questions, but not
merely because they are firm believers. It is probably because they
are unsure of what they believe and why they believe such. Anything
that might upset their comfortable role is distasteful.
These two contradictory views about religion in our society only
represent a small segment of the population. In addition, new ideas and
groups are being created rapidly, instituting equally uprecendted sub
jects relating to theology. In a world as complex and disturbing as
ours, such manifestations are logical results. The importance of God?
must be Interpreted on personal scales in order that He may be a
major force in this technical universe. But, the only real difference
in God today and the God of our forefathers is the change in attitude
toward Him He can no longer be described as the Superior Being that
reigns from the sky. Now He must, of necessity, be considered
as the Supreme Being that walks, feels and relates to contemporary
man. His role must be that of a spirit that is real. The conclusion
that God is dead is not as unbelievable as it sounds. The old God is
dead. He is being replaced by an everyday God for everyday people- -
His everyday world.
Those Who Destroy
By BETTY J. JONES
If you fall into that growing mass of creatures who seek to build
and instead destroy, read further. If you fall into that category of
those who are concerned for change but respect others and their
feelings as well, you too read on.
When it becomes necessary for us, as People--not as blacks and
Whites--to literally tear up or tear down symbols of what we are
against, whether it is a school or a sign, it is also time to reval-
uate the thoughtfulness or lack of it envolved. Accomplishing a
desired end does not necessarily mean using any proposed mean. This
is true if for no other reason than the fact that all methods do not aid
in the successful completion of a proposed goal. Whether we condone
or criticize the wrath, ^etto-life, injustices, war, conspiracy and all
of the thousands of other ills of this Flight called life, we live in a
real world. These unpleasant forces exist in the the heart as well as
the hearth. Let us not forget that we are dealing with emotional as
well as material problems as we live from hour to hour and day to day.
If tearing up a sign that symbolizes something you are against will
curb or decrease in any way the narrow-mindedness and violence
which prompted you to do so, then I feel confident that whoever put
it up would be delighted to have contributed to your well Deing.
If, however, you feel the same malicious destructiveness that you
felt ’before committing such an act, then you are part of that ever-
widening sphere of “proposed humans” who let their animal in
stinct rule over their better reasoning. Those who can only live by
impulse and lack reason and thoughtfulness, soon perish. That they
perish is not so sad, but that races must perish because of them and
their deeds, is sickening.
Yes, there was freedom of speech and press. There was freedom.
It now exists more as a farce. The significant question for our times
is; Do we care and contribute to further freedom, or damn and des
troy and get nowhere?
To Return Or Not...
By DARWIN PRIOLEAU
There are many students who will go home with the thought that
they will return to Bennett in Sept. on the scholarship that they were
previously on. However there may be many students who will be
disappointed because there is a possibility that many scholarships
will be decreased or even dropped entirely.
(See NUMBER 2 Page 5)
THK BENNETT BANNER
May 27, 1969
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L—J
r 1 I
Life’s Just Beginning
Graduation *• An Opening Door
By DARWIN PRIOLEAU
It’s that time of year again
when graduation is here. Most
underclass women envy their
graduating sisters. To the under
class women the chance that the
seniors will have to be on their
own is too much for words. They
look at them as adult figures
who will soon be able to make
their own money, buy their own
clothes, and do pretty much what
they like to do. In their eyes the
graduate is the luckiest person
in the world.
However, the graduating stu-
dent does not take such an op
timistic outlook on the situation.
While she is glad to be gradu
ating, whe can’t help but feel
that little amount of fear. While
during the year she may have
been shouting at the top of her
lungs how happy she would be
when she finally graduates, she
now begins to realize the secu
rity that college has represented
during her past four years. She
never had to worry about what
she was going to do the next
year because she knew that she
would return to college in Sep
tember, Now she suddenly sees
herself as an adult woman faced
with the ups and downs of life
in a pretty rough world. She
looks at graduation as one of the
final important events of her
life. It is, of course an impor
tant step, but by all means not
final.
The seniors at Bennett College
are just beginning life. There
is so much to do and see that it
will be impossible to do and see
it all in their lifetime. The ex-
citement of getting a first job
and first promotion, the first
trip abroad, marriage, and the
first child, are just a few of
the great things that will hap
pen. Look forward to life with
excitement and hope. College is
an important part of everyone’s
life, but it is just a small part.
College opens the door, it is
up to each to walk throu^ it.
EDITOR’S MAILBOX
Dear Editor:
Wliile most campuses in the
U.S. are in a uproar over the
present administration’s dictated
college situation, there are some
who seek the cause of the unrest,
while others only seek to stop it.
Those who seek to stop campus
riot, as the government, do not
realize that punishing students
will not put an end to the unrest,
for the cause will still be present.
Most administrators infer that
students riot and walk out be
cause other campuses are doing
it. Thus, they refuse to stop and
take notice of the real problems
on their campuses. Any (so cal
led intelligent) logical thinking
person should be able to deci
pher that there must be some
immediate problem if millions
of students (who are intelligent
young adults and future govern-
ment builders) are unsatisfied
with the present college struc
ture.
Furthermore, it is senseless
for the state to arrest students
who express their unrest in a
new, yet, profound way. Just
think, what would be the reac.
tion of the community if police
men were sent on Bennett’s
campus to arrest hundreds of
young ladies? It sounds ridicu
lous, doesn’t it? Yet, this is
what the N.C. governor advo
cates. You may even attempt to
consider the reaction of the ad
ministration, Think seriously.
Bennett students and administra
tion, for there is a serious situ-
ation at hand.
Gladys Ashe
To Sophomores,
Beware sophomores! If you
don’t turn in a self-evaluation,
you’re liable to remain a sopho
more for life--at least until you
do turn in one. You did get the
notice didn’t you? “Any sopho
more therefore, who has not
submitted a self-evaluation by
the beginning of the academic
year 1969-70 will continue to be
classified as a sophomore until
she has submitted two copies
of her self-evaluation to her
advisor.” The self-evaluation is
supposedly designed to enable
you to identify “strengths and
weaknesses” as far as educa
tional progress is concerned.
Also, your advisors will be bet
ter able to make your “college
work during the junior and sen-
ior years contribute most ef
fectively to your plans for your
life.” But this certainly won’t
affect those of you who already
have your courses outlined for
next year. For you, the self
evaluation is just a little too
late. But then, you still aren’t
exempted from writing one.
But, since this is the last
week of school and since you
don’t have much of anything to
do, writing that evaluation will
be a snap.
Dear Editor:
This year has been the best
for the Banner that I have ever
seen. But though the staff is to
be commended for this year’s
work, I hope to see an even better
paper next year with more fre-
quent issues and better than ever.
Though I enjoyed the entire paper,
the poetry section was my favo
rite. I liked it for its originality
and uniqueness. (By the way,
who is “Fuentas” in the poetry
section, and, who is “Joy?‘“)
M.A.W.
Banner Staff
Published by the students of
Bennett College, Greensboro,
N.C. 27420.
EDITOR; Dimples Armstrong
MANAGING EDITOR: Winona
Griffin
BUSINESS MANAGER: Hattie
Carwell
NEWS EDITOR: Darwin Prioleau
PHOTOGRAPHER: Tullulah Du-
Bose, Dwight Davis
CARTOONIST: Fannie Carter
REPORTERS: Myra Hedricks
Myra Sampson
ADVISORS: Douglas D. McAdoo,
Alan Whiteleather