Student protests preachers on campus

The University of Memphis has entered a new era of religion — Science Fiction.

Michael Melton, junior earth science major, will dress in costume today and preach from a fiction novel next to a Christian preacher outside the University Center as a form of protest against others openly teaching religion on campus.

Melton said he first noticed Chad Muller preaching from the Bible every Friday at the beginning of last semester and approached him and other students affiliated with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry to discuss their worldviews and why they believe in their religion.

He said he was left unconvinced, so he took matters into his own hands.

Melton stages impromptu public lectures every Friday, drawing from his favorite Sci-Fi novels to make a statement about those who stand in the University Center courtyard and preach their religion openly for all to hear.

"I want to find proof of the truth," he said. "I don't care what it is, I just want to know what it is, but the only way I can know is through evidence. I don't know what the truth is, but just because somebody stands on a chair and reads from a book doesn't make it real. It needs to be something that is proven through observation and evidence that everyone can experience."

Sam Norville, senior marketing management major and Christian, said he does not agree with Melton's actions.

"God isn't something you feel or see with your eyes, but there are hundreds of eyewitness accounts that all line up," he said. "It's evidence that supports itself and doesn't contradict itself."

Norville said he wants those who are skeptical to challenge him and question his beliefs with whatever they are curious about. He just wants everyone to be respectful, he said.

"What (Melton) is doing is not a debate. It's an argument and that is not healthy," Norville said. "He needs to let (Muller) speak without interrupting him and then speak."

Melton said there is no point in quoting various novels, if Muller, who was not available for comment, is not preaching as well.

"I want him to consider my feelings and I want to consider his, but what I really want is for everyone to consider everyone's feelings," he said.

Melton was born in Memphis into a Catholic family and baptized by the Catholic Church when he was a small child. He said he was taught to be Baptist while he lived with his grandfather in Heber Springs, Ark.

"When I came back to Memphis, I started reading science fiction and I saw how beautiful it was and it lead me to question everything and think critically about life. I just want everyone to think critically about everything," Melton said.

Last week Melton delivered his speech from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" in a bathrobe, but said he didn't do it to make fun of anyone's religious belief.

"The bathrobe wasn't a mockery," he said. "I did that because the main character in ‘Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' wore a bathrobe. When I read ‘Star Trek,' I will be dressed in a star fleet uniform."

He said an aversion to hate speech is the purpose of him reading fiction books. Melton said he doesn't like the negative feelings students may receive from being told they're going to hell.

"It's hate speech and I am sick of it," Melton said. "I am not saying that (Muller) does it, but if I hear him preaching against gay people or telling everyone that they are going to hell because they aren't like him, I am going to go all out in my delivery until he quits."

Religion is what Melton said people use for an "excuse to let something happen." During his speech, he said Muller quoted a scripture that said something along the lines of a fool speaks about what he does not know about.

"I probably know more about ‘Star Trek' than he knows about the Bible. I am willing to put money on it and if only the fool speaks without knowing, then maybe he needs to sit down," Melton said.

Jeff Jones, director of the BCM, spoke up for Muller in his absence.

"Muller graduated last semester with a degree in philosophy and had a 4.0 GPA," Jones said. "He is now in seminary school at Mid-America Baptist Seminary and has studied religion a lot outside school."

Jones said that Muller's path was similar to the one that Melton is on.

"He wasn't always a Christian," Jones said. "He was raised Catholic, got exposed to different worldviews and turned his back on God. As he studied more, he came back to God."

Jones said Muller is doing what he does out of love for people and welcomes everyone to come and talk to him.

"I am different from (Muller)," Melton said. "It's something I believe in. Maybe not in the literal sense like him, but I find these stories inspirational. This is more of an art form for me."

Jones said both men are entitled to voice their opinions openly, but it seems they are doing it for different reasons.

"It seems like (Melton) is doing this to ridicule what Muller believes in and holds as his life principles," Jones said. "Maybe he should share what he believes in instead of ‘Star Trek,' which I am a fan of by the way.

Melton said he will stop when he either gets bored or it becomes "unimpressive."