Vanderbilt University has the Right to Despise Christianity

The Public Discourse ^ | 03/14/2012 | Michael Stokes Paulsen

[SeekAndFind]

Vanderbilt University has decided that campus student religious groups may not require that their leaders accept the core beliefs of the religious group they would lead. Ironically, Vanderbilt’s right to do so rests on the same freedom it denies to these groups—a group’s freedom to define what it stands for and the views it expresses.

Vanderbilt University has decided that Christian student groups that hold traditional Christian religious views are not welcome on campus. They will no longer be recognized as valid student organizations. Vanderbilt’s reason is that such groups require that their leaders be Christian—that is, that their leaders embrace certain core principles of Christianity and try to live according to these principles. In Vanderbilt’s view, religious beliefs and standards “discriminate” against those students who do not subscribe to them. Therefore, student religious groups with religious beliefs and standards are banned.

The situation would be unbelievable—were it not true. The issue came to a head this year when a student group at Vanderbilt Law School, the Christian Legal Society, submitted its “constitution” to the university. The constitution provided that the group’s leaders should believe in the Bible and in Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior; that they should be willing to lead members in worship, prayer, and Bible study; and that they should “strive to exemplify Christ-like qualities.” Vanderbilt’s Director of Religious Life, Reverend Gretchen Person, replied that such views were forbidden. Vanderbilt’s policies “do not allow” religious groups to have such an “expectation/qualification of officers,” she wrote. Last week, the administration officially declared the policy that Vanderbilt will exclude student religious groups that “impose faith-based or belief-based requirements for membership or leadership.”

[morphing libertarian]

I used to think the whole world could not be crazy. It had to be me. Now I know it’s not me.

[Cicero]

Reverend Gretchen Person

I think that's a typo. It should be "Reverend Wretched Person."

As for the argument, perhaps Vanderbilt has a First Amendment right to do anything it wants, as a private university. But, I wonder, what would the judges say if Vanderbilt decided it didn't want to admit any black students? Or even if they decided that they didn't want to allow a black dorm or a black club on campus?

The balance of the scales of justice always tips toward political correctness these days, it seems to me.

[240B]

None of this will ever apply to Muslim groups.
It never does.

The Left is fixated on attacking Christianity while praising the virtues of Islam, which, some may argue, is one hundred times worse in terms of how they feel and what they do to non-believers (infidels).

Unless they specifically target Muslim groups in the identical way, they will expose themselves as being the anti-Christian bigots they truly are.

[fish hawk]

So if they have an NAACP youth group on campus, I take it that the leaders can be of any ethnic background.

[Americanexpat]

We need tp burn all these glorified crap houses down and start over.

[DaveyB]

I suppose that this means that the football team is also no longer sanctioned, because in order to be on the team you have to play football and act accordingly. Only football players are allowed on the football team, synchronized swimmers are not welcomed (sorry Barrack).

[muawiyah]

Sounds like the leidership at Vanderbilt really are all Fascist Pigs.

Next, the new oven installation on the green .... what's it for, how many, and should Jews at Vanderbilt really care this time. Visit at the Bishop Joe Johnson Black Cultural Center on March 26 for a discussion of "How to round 'em up".

April is "Burn a Christian at the Stake Month", an annual event where the tenured faculty council will present their candidates ~ only one of which will actually be burned. The others will be given to the student body for appropriate punishment otherwise.

Bishop JOE JOHNSON? What's this here BISHOP stuff?

(/s) ~ probably not that bad yet, but it's coming.

Worth remembering the individual who write the denial of approval to the Christian Legal group is just an "interim" director ~ but she's an ordained "priest" of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of American, or ELCA ~ one of those churches that's part of the "Mainline Churches" noted by Santorum as dying ~ which they are! I'm not sure they still believe in Jesus over there. Have to check some time ~ they're squared away with homosexuality though,

[achilles2000]

With the exception of Hillsdale and a few others, there are no private universities or colleges. They all suck at the government teat and are subject to federal and/or state control.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

The Communist’s goal is almost in hand. They destroyed the family, took over Hollywood, infiltrated the Catholic church priesthood, conquered the grade schools, and created and molded the employee unions. They have completely taken over higher education.

And people wonder why I think America is doomed.

[FrankR]

The Constitution says anybody can “despise” any religion, it’s their right. But what is NOT their right is to impose sanctions on the rest of us because we don’t.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

You bet your booty it does not apply to Muslims. The Vanderbilt University Muslim Student Association has three official daily on-campus prayer times.

http://www.vanderbiltmsa.org/on-campus.html

[Josephat]

That might be a little extreme, but we could certainly quit sending our kids to them for indoctrination.

[Catsrus]

Christians have been slaughtered by the thousands around the world. Americans have gotten off easily to date. I know that I read that many in other countries have prayed for American Christians to experience some persecution. Not sure if this is a good way to pray or not, but, its true.

Yes, I believe Christianity is under assault here in the U.S., while Islam is being embraced. I have more to say on this subject, but, don’t believe this is the correct forum to do so.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I thought that 51% of the student body and faculty (a majority) had to be homosexuals before the “right to despise Christianity” kicked in.

[JCBreckenridge]

Here’s what Mike Adams had to say about this in October of last year.

http://townhall.com/columnists/mikeadams/2011/10/05/postmodern_vanderbilt/page/full/

My excerpt:

“The story began the way these stories always begin: A homosexual student joined a Christian organization that did not share his acceptance of homosexuality. When he was removed from the group, he complained that the group would not alter its membership criteria just for him. Instead of finding another organization, he filed a complaint that resulted in the investigation of hundreds of organizations.”

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

But hey folks, you are all invited to celebrate Islamic Awareness Week with the Vanderbilt Muslim Student Association.

And don't forget your Lessons in Islam! We'll all be there with bells on. I'm especially looking forward to "Horrors/Pleasure of the Grave".

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

And just so you are crystal clear and not confused, all religions are WELCOME at Vanderbilt, except for the goofy cult of personality crossed out below for your convenience.

[WashingtonSource]

Paulsen is wrong. Vanderbilt is discriminating against Christians, violating their first amendment rights.

[PapaBear3625]

Perhaps the Christians should join the Vanderbilt Muslim Students Association en mass and vote themselves into leadership positions.