Religion & Farting

[Monsma, Steve]

I don't know if this was ever in the Wall Street Journal, but an example of
this nature was given by Richard Baer, a professor at Cornell University in
a chapel talk there in 1984.  I was sent a photocopy of the talk by Baer and
quoted from it in my 1993 POSITIVE NEUTRALITY book (p. 128-129).  Following
is the relevant portion of Baer's talk:

"For over five years I attended a weekly Cornell graduate student/faculty
seminar that focussed on issues of science, technology, and public policy.
Perhaps every third or fourth week, I would make a comment or two based on
my
knowledge of Bible, theology, or Christian ethics.  .  .  .  But again and
again, I would get the same kind of response.  No one agreed with me, no one
disagreed.  To put it rather crudely, but very accurately, it was as if I
had farted.  And when someone farts in public, no one applauds, no one boos.
They simply act as if it hadn't happened.  Someone violated a social taboo,
and the best way to deal with the embarrassment is to go on to the next item
of business as quickly and unobtrusively as possible."

Professor Baer's point was that in our society religion has been privatized
and is seen as irrelevant to the world of public policy and academics.

Steve Monsma

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Duncan [mailto:conlawprof at YAHOO.COM]
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2000 9:29 AM
To: RELIGIONLAW at listserv.ucla.edu
Subject: Religion & Farting


I am trying to find the specifics of a Wall Street
Journal article that compared speaking from a
religious perspective to farting. In particular, the
writer talked about having a discussion with some
colleagues in which he mentioned a religious value as
being relevant--"It was as if I had farted. There was
this strange silence. No one reprimanded me. No one
said I had done something wrong. But there was a sort
of consensus in the group I had acted socially
inappropriately and people would turn the other way."

Did anyone make a copy of this article when it
appeared in the Wall Street Journal about 5 years ago?
If so, I would love a copy (or at least, the
citation--including date and page number--so I can
have our librarians track it down for me).

Thanks,  Rick Duncan



=====
Rick Duncan
Welpton Professor of Law
University of Nebraska
College of Law
Lincoln, NE 68583-0902
(402)472-6044
(402)472-5185 FAX
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