Christian apologist Siegel
draws crowds,
controversy
Tyler Wilson-Ross
The Willamette University Collegian
November 1, 1996
Campus Ambassadors invited the outspoken Christian speaker Bob Siegel
for a series of talks and appearances here at Willamette
University. “Mr. Siegel is very good at
communicating
and interacting with audiences in a respectful manner,” said
Campus Ambassadors spokesman Dan Barram, “but at the same
time
he’s always wrestling with the
issues.”
Siegel’s appearance was hyped with flyers and table tents
titled
“Atheism is Inconsistent.”
Siegel. an ordained pastor with the Baptist church, was challenged at
Jackson Plaza on Wednesday with a series of questions posed by the
throng of students who gathered to hear him. With the deftness of a
professional speaker, Mr. Siegel addressed the students’
questions and attacks on Christians’ stances and views, as
well
as criticisms of the Bible. As a child growing up-
in a
Jewish household, he explained, he became disillusioned and embraced
atheism, a belief that fulfilled his needs at the time. But, as he
continued, he found that one could not live as a true atheist. Thus he
came to a belief in God and joined the Christian faith.
Atheism was but one of the many topics discussed by Siegel and his
audience. Other areas of discourse included the Bible, slavery, and
homosexuality. During Siegel’s explanation of the latter, he
was
met with the opposition of an outspoken member of the audience who
angrily challenged his view and then stalked away. Near the end of this
two hour question and answer session, Mr. Siegel encouraged anyone with
further questions to talk to him during his visit here, either outside
the Willamette Bookstore on Thursday and Friday or at his next open air
discussion on Saturday.
“I think Mr. Siegel has a very rational approach to
Christianity,” said participant Danielle Gordon,
“and
that’s helpful, especially if you’re seeking
truth.”
Siegel, who spoke at Willamette last year as well, will appear on
Friday from 10:00-12:00 at the book table outside the Bookstore, from
12:00-2:00 in Jackson Plaza, 6:30 p.m. in the Hatfield Room during
Koinonia, and from 8:30-10:00 in the Bistro. |
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