I can't say that I have ever had the displeasure of reading a column by John Bice, but I can say that I am thankful I will never have to again.

I was perturbed, and downright outraged, at his column "Criticism warranted when any group forces its beliefs on others" (SN 4/17). If Bice had been raised Christian and was a true follower, he would understand that sharing one's faith is a basic tenant of Christianity.

Christians do have the "intention of pushing their faith-based values on others." We are taught that not sharing your faith is like wasting a gift, one that everyone is entitled to and needs to know about. The "fundamentalist sects" that he cites in relation to Christianity are nothing but occults, which do not respond to the true tenants of Christianity.

Christian science should not be called Christian at all because it does not believe that Christ was the Son of God or that his blood is enough to cleanse you from your sin.

These are the two founding beliefs of Christianity and for Bice to sully the name of Christianity by associating Christians with "Christian" scientists is blasphemy.

Scientologists and Raelians are a different matter entirely.

Although Bice does not explicitly link these two occults to the Christian Church, it can be implied from the context that he is indeed trying to draw a correlation between the two because his column does not focus on the impact (whether positive or negative) that religious groups have on public policy.

His focus is on Christianity. "Why have I focused on Christianity?" This column is disheartening because he singles out a religious group that does no harm to others. We Christians don't riot in the streets, burn flags and destroy buildings.

I am not surprised though. Sadly, the liberal bias I have seen in The State News, which is being fed to the students of MSU, makes this profane treatment of a truly peaceful religion that teaches love inevitable.

Jessica Byrom
international relations freshman