“A former Christian friend of mine invited me to CRU and I felt obligated since they went to the Atheist Club (AgASSA). A lot of strange talk about how God loved them – no references to God calling for genocide, rape etc. from the Old Testament, of course. One member ranted about how school was a distraction from God. There are many valid criticisms of higher education in the US, but describing it as a conspiracy – as he did – to lessen one’s faith is simply put, insanity. He was met with applause and comfort and support. I’m an Anti-Theist, and for the longest time I held a lukewarm longing to go back to church,. That meeting only reaffirmed my beliefs that religion is harmful and should be made illegal. Following that sermon I discussed with some friends of that friend from CRU about their beliefs, the legitimacy of the Bible, etc. It seems that no matter where on the political compass they fell – my small hometown was mostly authoritarian conservative, while CRU members seemed more centralist, the answers were all the same. The desire to belong and have answers to existential questions seems to provide brainwashing to the nth degree no matter your location in the world. Frankly, I was really hooping to see something different, but religion is frightening.” – J.O, Davis