The Fed

Makin' Love Happen Since 1983 volume 15 • issue 4 • The Non-Issue

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Crusade This!

The Fed Interviews the Crusaders for Christ and Cthulhu

    Interested in who the Campus Crusade for Christ is?  Wondering what all the hubbub surrounding the Campus Crusade for Cthulhu is about?  Well, the Fed took the time to find out for you.  We recently sat down for an interview with representatives from both groups (not at the same time, of course, to avoid those cataclysmic matter-antimatter like explosions).
    The Campus Crusade for Christ is a national organization with chapters on many college campuses across America.  The local chapter is a group of about 120 students whose mission statement is “a challenge to the Columbia community with the Gospel of Jesus to embrace the love of Jesus, to train by the example of Jesus, and reproduce disciples of Jesus.”  (Some groups are already ahead of them on that last bit.  A group called “Christians for the Cloning of Jesus” are trying to bring the Messiah himself back, through the wonders of modern genetic cloning, using the Shroud of Turin to gather a DNA sample.  They envision a “Jesus in every home,” and come up with some compelling reasons: “No more communicating with God through your pastor or priest.  If you have a question for God you could just call home and ask him.  Just imagine a world with a Jesus in every household.”  But enough of my cynical musings.)

Fed:  In what ways do you want your organization to affect the lives of Columia students?
CCC:  The CCC was founded by Dr. Bill Bright.  The purpose of it was to fulfill the Great Commision (Matthew 28:19-20) to create disciples of all nations.  When you come across something like this, you want to share the Greatest Truth with other people, and that's what we want to do.

Fed:  A lot of people view you guys as very religious, or zealots.  How do you respond to that?
CCC:  I like the idea that we're seen as zealots.  The only way to be about something like that is to be zealous.  Religious is a dangerous term; we want to be a ministry.  To strengthen the Christians we do have, and to let others know and come to Jesus Christ.  We're imperfect too; it's not abut a certain way to live or a certain set of values but about a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Fed:  What goes on at your typical meetings?
CCC:   OK, we have 2 main types of meetings.  The publicized one, the one that people know about, is the large group meeting.  There are 2 main purposes for these meetings:  1.  To worship our God.  2.  Fellowship.  To get to know one another.  We want our meetings to be open to anyone.  We welcome anyone, and it's invitational to those interested in us.
    More important, but less known, are the small group meetings, with about 6-8 people.  They meet throughout the week, and have Bible studies.  It's also more personal, which is good.  It's the best way to find out what we're about.

Fed:  How do you feel about the Campus Crusade for Cthulhu?
CCC:  I haven't seen anything on campus about them.   Are they recognized by the university?  It's happened before, though, in the past.  Usually it's a negative portrayal of our ministry.  It's kind of good for us, because if we get publicity for us, then more people know about us, and it could lead to more people becoming interested in us.

Fed:  Additional comments?
CCC:  I think the best thing to say is that I'd really encourage everyone to seek truth.  Really investigate who Jesus is.  The biggest mistake people make is that they form opinions on Christianity by looking at us, looking at Christians.  They need to see for themselves what it's all about.

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For the uninitiated, Cthulhu is a fictional character of H.P. Lovecraft, who is one of the elder gods in Lovecraft's separate history of the world/  The local chapter of the CC Cthulhu, composed of about 35 members, was started 2 years ago by Noah Fulmor.  Why, you may ask?  “Under the Equal Time for Deities Act, we believe in equal time for Cthulhu, besides other deities.”

Fed:  About how many members are involved with the CCC nation-wide?
CCC:  It's an international organization.  They're everywhere.  You know a Cthulhu cultist.

Fed:  Creepy.  In what ways do you want your organization to affect the life of the average Columbia student?
CCC:  We want the average student to realize that they have options regarding their oaths of fealty to a deity.  The life of a cultist is interesting; it brings excitement to the mundane life of an average Columbia student.

Fed:  A lot of people view you as zealots or fanatics, and have the notion that your organization is a cult of some sort...how do you respond to that?
CCC:  I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about.

Fed:  How do you feel about the Campus Crusade for Christ?
CCC:  We feel that propaganda is more volatile than they most likely realize, and through or own efforts endeavor to alert the Columbia community that just because something appears everywhere on a poster doesn't necessarily mean it has universal appeal.

Fed:  What goes on at one of your typical meetings?
CCC:  Come and find out.

Fed:  Do you guys sacrifice virgins?
CCC:[They're] Difficult to find these days.

Fed:  But if you could get your hands on one?
CCC:  Sacrifice a good virgin?  Are you joking?  We have far more interesting rituals for that.

Campus Crusade for Christ meetings are held on Thursday nights from 8-10 PM in the Earl Hall ballroom (2nd floor).  For more information, visit the Campus Crusade for Christ web site at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ccc or email ccc@columbia.edu.

Campus Crusade for Cthulhu meetings masquerade as Science Fiction Society Office Hours, which are held in 505-A Lerner on alternating Wednesdays from 8-10 PM.  For more information on the CCC, visit the CUSFS web site at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cusfs or email ecm19@columbia.edu.