Posted on 02/18/2003 5:11:39 AM PST by SJackson
Since 9-11, hundreds of colleges and universities across America have bent over backward to show the world that they “embrace” Islam. The University of North Carolina, for example, now requires all incoming freshmen to read the Muslim devotional “Approaching the Koran.” And in the wake of Sept.11th, left-wing professors throughout the nation held “teach-ins” to inform college students that Islam is a peaceful religion, notwithstanding the fact that most of the Muslim world, including many American Muslims, view the United States as the “Great Satan.” Despite the left’s new love affair with radical Islam, the left has not changed its opinion of Christianity, which it views with trepidation and contempt.
Because the radical left has seized control of American campuses, Christian students across the U.S. are now viewed by their peers and by campus faculty as followers of an “intolerant” and “oppressive” religion. In the classroom, radical professors focus their lectures on atrocities committed in the name of the Christian faith, such as the Inquisition and the Crusades, whereas Christianity’s contributions to the world are downplayed or simply never mentioned. The prevailing belief among left-wing academics is that Christians are homophobes, bigots and closed-minded extremists. On today’s campuses, this vitriolic attitude towards Christians is beginning to culminate in an unconstitutional assault upon Christian student groups.
At UNC Chapel Hill, for example, seventeen different religious groups on campus received letters from the university administration threatening de-recognition. These letters warned that if the groups’ rules and policies were not modified, the university would officially revoke the organizations’ right to meet on campus and would strip the clubs of college funding. And what is wrong with the policies of these organizations? They are Christian organizations, and their policies reflect their Christian beliefs. At UNC, groups are prohibited from defining themselves as “a Christian community,” and they are not allowed to select group leaders according to Christian beliefs. Both The Brotherhood in Christ and Chi Alpha Omega, for example, are student groups that were reprimanded for requiring members to be Christian males. And the IVCF (Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship) was threatened with de-recognition for requiring its members to follow Christian doctrine.
Imagine the outcry that we would hear if the same university de-recognized the student organization of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queers (LGBTQ) for not allowing heterosexuals to assume leadership roles in the organization. No doubt, this would immediately turn into a “civil rights issue,” and all of the professional civil rights hustlers would descend upon the school to shake down the administration.
This of course would never happen because, on college campuses, homosexuals are a protected class. They are one of the sociological groups that leftists consider to be “oppressed” by white, heterosexual, Christian males. Or, as lefties often say, “The White Christian Patriarchy.” Marxism, which is at the root of this worldview, is an atheistic philosophy. It is a philosophy that since its inception has defined itself as the mortal enemy of Christianity. Marxism promises a heaven on earth. Christianity promises a paradise only in the afterlife. This is why every communist nation that has ever existed has outlawed religious expression. In a Marxist society, there can be no higher authority than the "enlightened" Marxists who rule the masses. We have seen this in various nations across the globe, and now we are seeing this on America’s college campuses.
Thankfully, some Christian student groups are beginning to fight back. In September 02, for example, the Director of student Involvement at Rutgers University officially de-recognized the IVMEF (InterVarsity Multi Ethnic Fellowship) because the group was accused of having discriminating polices. It seems that the group only selects leaders whose beliefs reflect the values of the organization. Because the group is a Christian organization, leaders must hold Christian beliefs. This does not gel with the ethos of the university administration, which holds that Christians should not be allowed to express their religious beliefs on campus. Rather than surrender to the administration’s fascistic demands, however, the IVMEF filed a lawsuit against Rutgers University in the U.S. Federal District Court of New Jersey.
Because Rutgers has so obviously violated the first amendment rights of this group's members, it is likely that the IVMEF will win its case against Rutgers. But, whatever the outcome of this case, one thing remains certain: until our colleges and universities are taken back from the radical left, academia’s war against Christians will persist without cease.
To respond to this article, email the author at larson@politicallyright.com .
I agree the only "somewhat" safe for kids today is Christian colleges..not the ones that are Christian in name only but ones that still adhere to biblical principles and are at least Christian friendly
I hope those students who are being forced to become secular groups have notified Christian civil rights lawyers..
I'm guessing we'd just go ex officio if push came to shove. No reason why we couldn't.
Not a lot of those left these days.
I know, for instance, in Rochester, Roberts Wesleyan College no longer calls themselves "Christian," but "in the Wesleyan tradition" or something like that.
It is clear good has become evil, right-side up has been turned upside down, and ignorance has replaced common sense -- Further signs that 'Big Guy' must getting close to returning to do a little 'house cleaning';-)
Beginning with the NEA's anti-Christian, anti-America, pro-lie incubation period of K-12 on through the indoctrination nexus of college, this is what it's come down to.
Unfortunately, this is the tab we now have to pick up for allowing the leftist Radicals of the 60s completely hijack the entire "education system" of the United States of America.
Thank you Woody for bringing that to light. I agree, if that were the only statement to base an understanding of the Gospel, then you might conclude that we ought to "work" in order to attain salvation. I was merely pointing out to the other poster that the saints who have gone on before us, AFTER having received the glorious gift of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, practiced putting away the lusts of the flesh and avoided the influences of the world, and instead practiced righteousness. This holy living was evident by the practical choices that they (in this instance, the Pilgrims) made that affected every facet of their lives.
Phil 1:27 "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."
"Christian" colleges are often no better than their secular counterparts, with the exceptions of some small "Bible colleges" or seminaries.
Even the explicitly Christian ones will teach objectionable stuff. I know a guy who went to Messiah College (in PA), and found all kinds of radical feminism, evolutionism, etc. Ditto from what I hear from my friends at Roberts.
Have your kid go to a state school (cheaper for the same stuff), and hook up with a good campus ministry. I'm partial to Campus Crusade because I'm in it, but InterVarsity is just as good. There are others, too, but check 'em out. There are some bad ones out there too.
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