Debate over the expansion of religion at Harvard has split the United Ministry to Students. Five student groups yesterday backed having General Education courses in religion and a University chaplain for undergraduates, while the Unitarians blasted the program. At the same time three political organizations expressed doubts about the plan.

The five proponents of the plan support expansion of the College's religious program similar to what Provost Buck and his committee are considering. They ask that the courses in religion "be taught by a Christian from a Christian point of view," and recommend that the official chaplain have assistants of all faiths.

Freedom Not Violated

Academic freedom would not be violated by allowing a minister to voice his beliefs the writers said, since students can evaluate his words for themselves.

In contrast, the Unitarian Eliot Club--through Ann Geer '53, its president---issued the following statement: "The Eliot Club is opposed to a G.E. course given by anyone hired on the basis of an individual religious experience. We believe that the objective presentation of religion is adequately covered in the College. The individual approach can best be developed through the churches in this area."

Under consideration by the Buck committee are proposals calling for a University preacher with the status of professor to teach G.E. courses on religion and run Memorial Church. A chaplain might also be appointed to substitute for some of the advisory duties of the Hygiene Department.

Other Groups Share Views

Other religious groups in general yesterday shared, with modifications, the views of the United Ministry leaders.

Of the University-recognized religious group, the Appleton Club, the Christian Science Organization, and the Christian Fellowship expressed varying degrees of approval. The Catholic Club refused to comment.

Maurice L. Zigmond, director of the local Hillel Foundation (Jewish), said that he will cooperate. He pointed out that the courses "could be approached from many points of view besides the theological" and wanted "the nature and viewpoint of the course to be clearly understood," before the student takes the course.

Rabbi Zigmond thought it would be "almost impossible to represent all religions."

George A. Selleck, adviser to the Quaker group, also agreed that the plan was feasible and commented that "the teaching of religion can be as objective as any course can."

The vice-chairman of the Appleton Club, Alan 10. Brokaw '52, cited the program of 30 courses on religion at Columbia, as a possible goal here.

Plan Might Go Overboard

Richard W. Eliott, Jr. 2G, president of the local Christian Science Organization, said he is "in favor" of the plan, but warned that such a program might go overboard and "create much unhappiness if the preacher used it as a vehicle for his own religion."