Graduate Student Can't Keep Her Christian Beliefs?
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How should a college balance the diverse but deeply held beliefs of its students? Should students of a university be required to share the same political ideology? How about the same worldview? Would it be right for a college to require that a gay or lesbian student be encouraged (or required) to believe that his or her sexuality be a condition of choice? Or what if a Muslim student was required to accept that all ethics were derived from Christianity in order to graduate?
Before reading on, watch this video clip, the subject of which has been discussed in a number of recent news stories, both in print and video.
Now, before I continue, I'd like to remind you that the nature of news media is such that the article or clip is not likely accounting for all sides of a complete story or historical event. It provides outsiders a glimpse, of which the perspective and details are chosen by the author or editor and presented within the limitations of time and the medium. I'd venture to say that we don't have anything close to the entire story.
That being said, I've noticed some diverse ways in which this story is being reported. From one perspective, the articles and clips (like this one) paint Keeton as a victim. Other articles--often published by outlets with unmistakeably gay names--paint her as obstinate and "homophobic." (As of yet, I've not seen any of of the Christian publishers paint the school as "Christophobic.") I'd like to call attention not to the story itself, but the reaction to it, and the bigger aspects of it.
How is it that a group of people can demand the opportunity to feel safe and accepted in a public community but then not afford the same opportunity to those different from themselves? Is this a double-standard? I say yes. I also admit that many Christians have done this to others throughout history. And many Christians have been on the oppressed end of this stick too, like in Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and China.
If a Christian were to demand that a Muslim not be allowed to express his or her views in a college setting, most would identify this demand unfair. Can a Christian or Muslim hold to his or her belief (and I would say lifestyle) to the same extent as a homosexual man or woman holds that they cannot or will not change his or her lifestyle? Again, I'd say yes.
Is religion a protected class in America? Yes.
Is creed a protected class in America? Yes again.
I'm just curious if the school would require a gay or lesbian counseling student to attend church services in order to obtain an understanding of people who hold a Christian worldview. Should an atheist be required to change his or her view because he or she is not in agreement with a much larger majority that believes in some kind of higher power or deity?
So why does is this student required to change a deeply held belief or conviction? I realize that some will want to argue that this belief is a choice, that is, that she was not created with this belief. However, millions of reformed and Calvinist Christians would disagree. They argue, as I argue, that Keeton was born and created to be a believer of Jesus Christ.
Before reading on, watch this video clip, the subject of which has been discussed in a number of recent news stories, both in print and video.
Now, before I continue, I'd like to remind you that the nature of news media is such that the article or clip is not likely accounting for all sides of a complete story or historical event. It provides outsiders a glimpse, of which the perspective and details are chosen by the author or editor and presented within the limitations of time and the medium. I'd venture to say that we don't have anything close to the entire story.
That being said, I've noticed some diverse ways in which this story is being reported. From one perspective, the articles and clips (like this one) paint Keeton as a victim. Other articles--often published by outlets with unmistakeably gay names--paint her as obstinate and "homophobic." (As of yet, I've not seen any of of the Christian publishers paint the school as "Christophobic.") I'd like to call attention not to the story itself, but the reaction to it, and the bigger aspects of it.
How is it that a group of people can demand the opportunity to feel safe and accepted in a public community but then not afford the same opportunity to those different from themselves? Is this a double-standard? I say yes. I also admit that many Christians have done this to others throughout history. And many Christians have been on the oppressed end of this stick too, like in Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and China.
If a Christian were to demand that a Muslim not be allowed to express his or her views in a college setting, most would identify this demand unfair. Can a Christian or Muslim hold to his or her belief (and I would say lifestyle) to the same extent as a homosexual man or woman holds that they cannot or will not change his or her lifestyle? Again, I'd say yes.
Is religion a protected class in America? Yes.
Is creed a protected class in America? Yes again.
I'm just curious if the school would require a gay or lesbian counseling student to attend church services in order to obtain an understanding of people who hold a Christian worldview. Should an atheist be required to change his or her view because he or she is not in agreement with a much larger majority that believes in some kind of higher power or deity?
So why does is this student required to change a deeply held belief or conviction? I realize that some will want to argue that this belief is a choice, that is, that she was not created with this belief. However, millions of reformed and Calvinist Christians would disagree. They argue, as I argue, that Keeton was born and created to be a believer of Jesus Christ.