New angle of politics explored by CSO speaker

With less than a week to go before one of the most anticipated elections of this century, UNCG's Christian Science Organization brought in guest speaker Dave Stevens to discuss the role of spirituality in today's government. With the question of spirituality pertaining to whether is is a problem or solution in politics, a small group of people gathered in the EUC's Azalea Room at noon on Wednesday to participate in what was a rather open and interactive discussion with Stevens. A Christian Science practitioner, Stevens holds a Master's Degree in World Development from Harvard University and now lives in California. He travels as an advocate of Mary Baker Eddy's viewpoints related in her book Science and Health. The forum was advertised as a "discussion about the connection between spirituality and government." "With election day looming, many people are turning to prayer and spirituality," stated the flyer posted by CSO. "How can spirituality guide you through the election outcome? Is it a help or a hindrance?" Hindrance came to mean an obstacle of fair politics in this meeting which was not just geared towards spirituality aiding in the voters decision process. Participants debated the idea of a need for politicians, in particular the president elect, to posses a sense of spirituality. "My position is that we all take spirituality into everything we do...we can't help but do that," said Stevens who is of the idea that no matter who is elected president for the next term, it is important for that person to incorporate his own spirituality into governing. Stevens did not discuss his voting preference. "I would hope that the next President of the United States is bringing his spirituality to bear on the job to be done...that is different than religion," commented Stevens who stressed the difference between spirituality and religion, as he pulled this quote from Eddy's writing: "The time for thinkers has come. Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity."