Student group wants to promote tolerance of all belief systems

So, an atheist, a Jew, a Muslim and two Christians walk into a school . . .

It's no joke, but a serious attempt to promote religious tolerance.

At the invitation of a student group, local religious leaders and an atheist spoke to about 150 students Friday at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs about tolerance and faith.

"We want to raise awareness about misconceptions in religions and learn how each religion deals with tolerance," said Chris Miller, 18, vice president of Pine Creek's SLATE Club - Students Learning Acceptance Through Education - which sponsored the event.

Formed five years ago, the SLATE Club strives to combat stereotypes of religious and ethnic groups, said Tracy Bryant, club organizer and teacher at Pine Creek.

Panelists for the 90-minute event were Rabbi Mel Glazer of Temple Shalom; Steve Mahone, a past president of Freethinkers of Colorado Springs; Arshad Yousufi, spokesman for the Islamic Society of Colorado Springs; Christopher Phelps, a Catholic studying to be a deacon at the Diocese of Colorado Springs; and Sam Bhatt, youth minister of the evangelical church The Gathering at Jackson Creek.

Each panelist was given 10 minutes to talk about the philosophy behind their beliefs, followed by questions from the students.

One student asked what the biggest misconception is of each belief system. Answers: that Jews believe in Jesus Christ; that Catholics are free to sin because all wrong acts are washed away during confession; that Muslims reject Jesus; that atheists are anti-religion; and that evangelical Christians think they are better than everyone else.

The only prickly moment came when a young woman asked Bhatt how evangelical Christians can say they don't consider themselves better than others when they believe they are the lone possessors of truth.

"You are not equal to my belief system, but I'll love the lost person either way," Bhatt told her.

Glazer turned to Bhatt and asked, "She is not going to heaven?"

"Correct," Bhatt said.

Bryant said she was pleased with the event, the first of its kind organized by the SLATE Club.

"I think we will definitely do it again," Bryant said. "The students' only complaint was that there wasn't enough time for questions."