Revisions presents Christian viewpoint

While humor, political and literary publications abound across campus, religious writing has had little outlet until recently.

Revisions magazine, first published last spring, hopes to fill that void with articles written from a Christian perspective.

"We felt that the Christian viewpoint was underrepresented, if at all," Revisions editor Andrew Matthews '06 said. "We wanted to show Christianity is academically viable and rationally founded."

Revisions' writers represent all classes at Princeton, as well as graduate students, alumni, chaplains and even students from other schools.

"I would really like to see this publication read by everyone on campus," assistant editor Richard Lopez '09 said. "Not just by Christians, not just by people who are religious ... but anyone. I really hope this magazine stirs discussion and reflection so that people can see a gospel worldview in a different way."

Revisions, which follows in the footsteps of similar journals at Harvard and Cornell, is published once per semester, with each issue concentrating on a different arena in which Christianity plays a role.

In the first two issues, the magazine discussed politics and academia respectively. The topic of the coming spring issue will be popular culture, with articles regarding art, architecture, music and entertainment. David Kim, director of Manna Christian Fellowship, wrote an article on sex through a Christian lens, dealing with secular and religious misconceptions about the body.

"It's gonna be a hot issue!" Matthews said.

The name Revisions, Lopez said, reflects the goal of the publication: to rethink modern life through the perspective of Jesus' teachings.

"Revisions is grounded in a gospel world view, meaning our ultimate source is the word of God and God himself coming to earth," Lopez said. "This could seem very radical in a growingly secular world. The reasoning is completely different."

Instead of looking solely to science to explain life, Lopez said Christianity can provide a much-needed counterpoint.

"People sometimes put too much 'faith' in science, but science is really just what works for the present time," Lopez said. "Theories are constantly refuted and challenged. Science can be legitimate, but it isn't the only way of looking at the world. In my mind, religion is as valid as science."

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For college students in particular, Lopez said, religion can provide "a greater purpose than getting an A on a paper. It gives you more of a life purpose. What you're living for is much greater than facts learned in the classroom."

Service, too, can relate to religion, Matthews said.

"Religion gives us a reason to care for those who are poor, marginalized, victims of a corrupt society and system," he said. "It ultimately gives hope, hope that is not irrational, but hope grounded in reason and reality."

And even in the magazine's fledgling year, students have taken notice.

"I believe there is a need for a Christian journal on campus," Steven Kim '09 said. "It is important for students with similar religious beliefs to have the opportunity to read articles that focus on issues regarding their faith."