Friday, February 20, 2009
A smiling, outgoing man wearing plastic devil horns jokingly heckles the small audience in front of him. He’s trying to get them to part with more of their money — for a good cause, he says.
“Come on, guys,” he says, urging them to increase their bids in an auction for the rights to his own soul. “Satan says community service is good.”
The man is Joey Ralph, Hutchinson sophomore and vice president of the Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics. He’s hocking his soul — or rather, his commitment to serve 50 hours of community service with the group of the winning bidder’s choice — to raise money for the Douglas County AIDS Project.
Joey Ralph, Hutchinson sophomore and vice president of Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics, cajoles bidders at SOMA's Fifth Annual Soul Auction at the Hawks Nest on Thursday night as Nathan Maddox, graduate student from Belem, Brazil, and Clayton Perkins, Overland Park junior, look on. Participants auctioned off their time for community service and other services, with part of the proceeds benefiting the Douglas County AIDS Project.
Ralph organized and served as devilish auctioneer of SOMA’s fifth-annual “Soul Auction,” held in the Kansas Union last night. Group members selling themselves committed to various services such as tutoring, cooking, cleaning, doing community service, going out on dates and attending church services in exchange for donations, half of which went to SOMA and half to DCAP.
The event, Ralph said, was part of the small but longstanding group’s recent and upcoming efforts to bolster its size and increase awareness of its message.
“There’s a perception out there that people who don’t have religion don’t have very good morals,” Ralph said. “We’re trying to put out a good name out there for atheists and agnostics.”
A 2008 study by the Pew Research Center found that 54 percent of Americans questioned said they had “an unfavorable view” of people without religious beliefs. Ralph said his group was small, but growing, and that he felt negative perceptions were slowly but surely decreasing.
Paul Mirecki, associate professor of religious studies and SOMA’s faculty adviser, said the auction was the group’s “tongue-in-cheek” effort to poke fun at negative stereotypes of atheists and agnostics as “souless” people.
“It’s a humorous idea to people who don’t believe — how can they auction off something that they don’t have?” Mirecki said. “It’s playing into the idea of the soul as a social conception, but it’s not meant to offend.”
Mirecki said challenges to the religious majority in America “are not usually appreciated.”
“This is unfortunate,” he said, “because these kind of institutions should be open to criticism — after all, what would America be without challenging the system?”
Clayton Perkins, Overland Park junior and SOMA president, said one of the group’s main aims was to provide a social network and community for students interested in getting involved in a club but not interested in religion.
The Student Involvement and Leadership Center has more than 15 registered campus groups relating to religion, many of which are related to Christianity.
Jason Badgett, Paola junior and president of Campus Christians, said he didn’t support a lack of religious faith, but did support the group and its fundraising efforts.
“I don’t think anybody should feel rejected or feel like they don’t have a place to belong,” Badgett said.
Ralph said SOMA had been poorly organized in the past, but that he and Perkins were excited about the group’s future and plan to hold bigger and more ambitious events, including hosting religious speakers and more social events.
Ralph’s 50 hours of community service went for $30. In total, the group raised $193.
— — Edited by Liz Schubauer
Quiet Dissent
The separation of church and student
Auctioning off your soul
Funds were split between the Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics and ...
Campus group organizes event to celebrate Darwin ...
The Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics (SOMA) has booked a guest ...
Obermeier: Please don't abuse our lexicon any ...
If you claim to be open-minded, then do so by not treating ...
Student atheist’s video wins award
Chris Redford’s documented transformation to an atheist earns him online recognition.
Students face religious dilemmas
At the college level, some students find growth in challenging spiritual beliefs.
Psychologist speaks of religious infection
Dr. Darrel Ray will be speaking tonight about the influence of religion ...
Osterhaus: Religion isn’t a trend
Pious people should be respected for their values.
Atheists lead a discussion to educate public
People have the chance to ask questions of a belief system they ...
Public debate on atheism draws protest from ...
Westboro Baptist Church to picket atheism debate this weekend.
Folmsbee: Why can't we all get along?
Continued controversy in battle of religion vs. science isn't necessary.
Free: Separation means politicians should keep beliefs ...
It's time our policy members realize the true meaning of separating church ...
Speaker: Change pledge of allegiance
Despite being ruled against by the Supreme Court in 2004, Michael Newdow ...
Living through lent
The personal sacrifices made by KU students
Free: Time to clear up some misunderstandings ...
Here are a few word that should enlighten the enlightened.
No more dough from Joe
Joe’s Bakery closed Friday for the second time after concern from its ...
Finding faith with James Naismith
Very few realize that James Naismith created basketball as a way to ...
University voices expectations for new Lawrence Police ...
The city hopes to announce its new police chief by the end ...
New rules for funding make process more ...
If a student group is seeking more than $500 in support, there ...
Letter to the editor: Religion shouldn't be ...
In response to Daniel Obermier's column, Mr. Maatta defends the actions of ...
Marx: Ralph Lauren makes charity fasionable
Oprah Winfrey hosted an "Evening with Ralph Lauren" Monday night to commemorate ...
Bond: Explore religions to find importance in ...
Faith is more important in everyday life than most students might think
Lesser-known holidays go deeper than Halloween
All Saints Day, Samhain, and Dia de los Muertos all fall around ...
Today is 11-11-11, and the world did ...
Despite the predictions of many numerologists, the recurrence of the number 11 ...
CITIZEN DOLPH: A rare look at the ...
You may not recognize his name, but Dolph Simons Jr., chairman of ...
Jefferson’s still closed, Vermont Street BBQ looking ...
Jefferson’s restaurant remains closed and could have its assets sold at auction ...
KU Cauldron student to give Wicca lecture
The group’s vice president wants to help students understand the pagan religion.
Blackmon: Don't abuse relief efforts
Some groups take advantage of environment of goodwill.
Two theories of science debated
Silent auction to fund the community shelter ...
A signed men’s basketball is among the items to be auctioned at ...
Living by the Book
Homeless rate in Lawrence increases
Experts encourage students to get involve and help solve the problem.
Pagan group to observe Samhain
KU Cauldron plans week with events covering topics such as witchcraft and ...
Harris: Freedom is found inside a gold-tin ...
Restaurants shouldn't close for Christian holidays.
Bond: Develop personal definition of religion to ...
It is important and necessary to faith to develop a definition of ...
Task force meets about campus alcohol problems
The new University Alcohol Task Force considers pre-game drinking and campus chalking ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID