Tuesday, 5/13/97 Unbelievable RELIGION: Students from varying
religious backgrounds question their faiths after studying
scientific theories
By Judy Cha Daily Bruin Contributor They swim about freely
alongside college students who believe that a deity does not exist.
Challenged by theories of evolution and unanswered questions, some
students at UCLA have been reeled in from the mainstream, scaled of
their religious identity and tossed among an unsung group of
atheists. "I have big problems with any kind of organized
religion," said Eric Bonilla, a second-year student. After learning
about the big-bang theory in his physics and other science classes
while going through school, Bonilla felt that evolution impeded his
belief in Catholicism. Born and raised Catholic and baptized a
month after birth, Bonilla went as far as confirmation before he
realized he just "went along with it" because it made his
grandmother happy. Bonilla explains that although he has turned
towards atheism, his parents and grandmother remain open-minded,
accepting his decision. When Bonilla became old enough to analyze
church doctrines, he found that theories of astronomy challenged
church teachings. Finding answers through science that others found
through religion steered Bonilla towards atheism. "I believe in
evolution," Bonilla said. "I can’t believe in Adam and Eve." James
Chang, an electrical engineering graduate student, questioned his
religious beliefs after encountering the theory of evolution in his
science classes. After extensive research on the theory, though,
Chang concludes that it proves false. "A lot of evidence is based
on one or two bones," Chang said. As a Christian, Chang believes
that some atheists uphold evolution because it gives them an excuse
to live without consequences. First-year undeclared student Cydney
Skow, who describes herself as an atheist, recounts her experience
with religion. As a Jehovah’s Witness, Skow felt that her faith
pulled her through a tumultuous point in her life. However, she
questioned her beliefs because religious answers did not make
sense. Skow said that practicing religion was more of a phase for
her than anything else. "It was something I did at one point in my
life because it was acceptable to my father," Skow said. Since no
other doctrine has appealed to her, Skow has decided to live a more
secular life. Although Skow feels religion is questionable, others
deem religion as a provider of the most logical answers. "It takes
more faith to believe in evolution," said Melissa Smith, a
third-year political science student. After having examined
evolution more closely, Smith found it unbelievable that something
profound such as the universe could evolve out of nothing. The idea
that a divine being created the universe seemed less contradictory
to Smith. While some of Smith’s friends believe that God is a
social construction created to explain the unknown, Smith thinks
otherwise. "They don’t want to deal with the reality of God," Smith
said. Since a college campus fosters an open environment for
students to live and grow, fourth-year economics studies student
John Foxworthy founded the Freethought Philosophy club at UCLA.
Finding that the school lacked a forum to discuss free inquiry,
Foxworthy hoped his club would offer an alternative to religious
and political organizations on campus. "If you’re not looking up or
looking down, then you’re looking around," Foxworthy said. Coming
from a Muslim and Christian background, Foxworthy adopted Islam
while growing up in the Middle East. After moving to the United
States, he became disenchanted with Islam, and soon converted to
Christianity. "How you think is a function of your environment,"
Foxworthy said. After studying the Bible for two years, Foxworthy
began to see contradictions. He was 16 when he picked up a book
that analyzed every single argument for the existence of God. "I
tried to refute it, but couldn’t," Foxworthy said. Two years later,
Foxworthy became an atheist. "I was a nonconformist," he said, "I
see myself more as an individual." Despite disputes from religious
students, Foxworthy and Bonilla think that nature takes the reins
after death. "You’re worm food," Bonilla said. Foxworthy explains
that instead of living for a god, he aims to live for experience on
Earth. He currently plans to go bungee jumping as well as to visit
Venice, Italy. Bonilla, Skow and Foxworthy turn to friends, family
and other channels for support and guidance in life. "I’ll write
how I feel to help me sort out my thoughts," Bonilla said. "It’s
kind of a healing process." While many will seek truth in religion,
Foxworthy said he believes in relative rather than absolute truth.
"Relativism is a type of philosophy because things are not
absolute," he said, "we have to change, to accept differences."