Recently, a large part of the Penn State community has been rocked sideways by the visit of Brother Jed and his company to the grassy region just below Willard Building. Many people have walked away from these gatherings very put off, some of them having been the focus of comments such as "You are going to hell!"

Some of them are mere onlookers. I was one of the onlookers, and I want to send a message to the people who were hit by these gatherings: Christians are not "Brother Jed" and the gang, although they may indeed be Christians. Christianity teaches acceptance and caring for fellow people, despite their beliefs.

Christians feel like they should be helping other people's souls by saving them, but the Bible itself teaches us to be kind and accepting. Peter tells us that "If you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it, but you must do this in a gentle and respectful way." Although Brother Jed may have been speaking from a Christian viewpoint, he should by no means be taken as the indicator of all of Christianity - our religion teaches us the acceptance and caring that he refused to display.