"The frustrating thing is that those who are attacking religion claim they are doing it in the name of tolerance, freedom, and open-mindedness. Question: Isn't the real truth that they are intolerant of religion? They refuse to tolerate its importance in our lives." -Ronald Reagan
A widespread epidemic has occurred on college campuses, and although many people have felt the effects of it, there are not nearly enough people who are aware of what is happening. Now more than ever before, Christians are being targeted, discriminated against, and attacked for their beliefs. From being told to remove cross necklaces, failing classes, being denied acceptance into colleges, and even being expelled from college due to religious beliefs, the problem is quickly getting out of hand. This type of discrimination happens daily in almost every state in the country, so why are we not hearing more about it? Why is this allowed to continue? The main explanation is because the Christian faith is seen as a threat to other faiths.
In a place where all religious beliefs should be embraced, it is unfortunate to see that one faith must suffer in order for the existence of others to continue. Christians tend to get the short end of the stick these days when it comes to religious freedoms and protections. Anything that is defended in the name of Christianity automatically makes a person a bigot, ignorant, or uneducated. This creates a real problem within the classroom between student and professor, and between the student body and certain organizations.
Science and medical students of faith have encountered the most opposition from their professors. In a world where both fields are evolving at record speed, there have been some instances where the introduction of new technologies or methods do not align with the Christian faith. In this case, many Christian students are told to separate their faith from their studies, as their religion will hinder their success. Genetic engineering is a heated debate in the world of science and medicine lately, where many Christians find it immoral to experiment with and insert genes into organisms that do not usually contain that DNA. Many professors, however, say that it is not good enough to disagree with something purely on the basis of faith, and that other research is needed in order to pose a valid oppositional argument.
Christian organizations have also had to deal with some major push backs from opposing students and faculty members of the institution. Organizations that are run through the school must be welcoming to all students, and allow all students to participate unless otherwise noted as a selective organization, such as a sororities or fraternities. This means embracing a diversity of races, thoughts, and beliefs, but it does not mean that the organization has to support or endorse any lifestyle or activity that does not agree with their mission statement or foundational beliefs. This is where many Christian organizations run into trouble, as they are called out for being dismissive of certain people. What people need to realize is that there is a big difference between allowing all people to participate, and claiming to endorse something that goes against a person's religion.
All religions are welcomed in America, but over the years, Christians have slowly been silenced. From the removal of prayer from schools, having to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas", and to even being denied acceptance to colleges for embracing the Christian faith, it is safe to say that Christians are under attack. The very country that was built on Christian principles to protect us from religious persecution has now turned its back on us in order to cater to every other set of beliefs.
As American citizens, we are all entitled to our own opinions and beliefs, and we deserve to feel protected even if those beliefs may differ from others. Having a different mindset does not mean that a person is hateful, it just means that they choose to live their life by a certain set of rules. What is hateful, is blatantly discriminating against someone solely on the basis of their religion, and the assumptions that come along with that faith. If colleges, particularly liberal arts institutions, wish to maintain their credibility in fostering diversity, then they must allow all students to have a say on their campus; no matter what beliefs they may hold.
