Feb 1, 2012
Print This Post
Christian student organizations at Vanderbilt University may be forced to go underground or meet in secret after university officials doubled down on a policy that bans student religious groups from requiring their leaders to hold specific beliefs, according to a law professor at the university.
Vanderbilt said their nondiscrimination policy ensure that campus groups are open to all students. But opponents said the ban restricts their freedom of speech and could force some nationally-known groups off campus.
GET TODD’S NEW BOOK: “DISPATCHES FROM BITTER AMERICA” ENDORSED BY SEAN HANNITY
“There are people on campus who are very threatened by the idea of religious freedom and they would like to create an environment where no one hurts anyone else’s feelings – unless it’s Christians,” said Carol Swain, a Vanderbilt law professor and the advisor to the Christian Legal Society.
The Christian Legal Society is one of four campus groups – including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Beta Upsilon Chi and Graduate Student Fellowship – that are currently in violation of the policy.
Swain told Fox News & Commentary that all four groups could lose their standing as registered student organizations.
“This political correctness is running amuck on campus and its constraining one group – and that group tends to be conservatives,” Swain said. “They will be forced to either accept the university’s policy or leave campus by the end of the academic year. They are in limbo.”
Vanderbilt University launched a review of the charters and constitutions of all student organizations last year after a complaint was filed against a Christian fraternity, said Beth Fortune, Vanderbilt’s vice chancellor of public affairs.
Fortune said the university determined the Christian fraternity had discriminated against a student based on sexual orientation.
“Our nondiscrimination policy applies equally to all registered student organizations,” Fortune said. “We’re simply saying if you are going to be a registered student organization and use the Vanderbilt name and university funding, and have the privileges afforded a registered student organization, then you need to comply with our nondiscrimination policy.”
Swain said what is happening to Christian students at Vanderbilt is scary, accusing the university of bullying people of faith.
Swain said the university forced the Christian Legal Society to remove Bible verses and the words “Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior” from their constitution.
“We tried to work with the university,” she said. “We made numerous compromises; even taking out the faith statement about Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.”
But Swain said they drew a line in the sand when Vanderbilt “said that Christian leaders could not be asked to lead Bible study or worship.”
“That’s a key function of a Christian leader in a Christian organization,” she said.
Fortune denied the university was going after Christians.
“We don’t see that we are targeting Christians or religious organizations,” she said. “It is our hope and our desire and our goal to work with every registered student organization that they can come into compliance.”
The university held a town hall meeting Tuesday to discuss the policy. It was packed with students opposed to the crackdown on religious freedom.
“We want to be able to elect our leaders based on our beliefs,” former Vanderbilt student body president Joseph Williams said in a report published in The Tennessean.
A Chinese student who attends an underground church in his home country appealed to the university for answers on what would happen if he joined a campus group in violation of the policy. Swain said the student shared what it was like belonging to an underground church.
“He asked the university what would happen if the Christian student groups were forced to meet secretly,” Swain said. “The provost joked, ‘We won’t send you to Duke.’”
Fortune said unregistered student groups will not be banned from campus.
“They are allowed to exist and freely assemble,” she said. “But they would not be a registered student organization.”
The Tennessean reported that during the town hall gathering Provost Richard McCarty said the university would not back down from its policy. He explained that their policy allows students to vote for whomever they like – they just can’t have written rules that would ban students from running for office if they don’t hold specific beliefs.
So why not just vote for people who share your beliefs?
Swain said that argument doesn’t hold water.
“This encourages students to engage in deception and infiltration and it takes away their rights to be with like-minded people,” she said. “It’s very easy for people to conceal their beliefs and if the wrong person is elected and starts disrupting the organization, there’s nothing that can be done other than to dissolve the organization and start over the following year.
As it now stands, the organization Swain advises, along with the other three groups have a choice – they can either accept the university’s crackdown on religion – or leave the campus by the end of the academic year.
“I think we should stand strong on principle,” Swain said. “We need leaders who understand the purpose of an organization and who are passionate and are willing to fight for a set of values and principles.”
Related posts:
FOX News Talk
THe Vanderbelt non– discrimination, policy is just like the ones in totalitarian societies (, believe as you wish as long as we like it ).Freedom means that you will sometimes hear things you don, t like, Everyone at that school is paying to be there , Part of learning is to live and let live. If you don, t like what a club believes don, t join. Even you anti God people should have sence to see the danger here. Take their right and it may be yours next. Now people shouldn, t put up with this crap ruling at this school. If you believe in a God , take your kids out , don, t give them your money , Don, t support ANY politician who supports them , Build another college , don, t go there at all , that's the real way to solve it..
What are you talking about? Did you actually read the article? The students can believe whatever they like. They can pray as much as they like. They can discriminate on the basis of belief as much as they. Nobody is stopping them from doing any of these things. What they can't do is expect to get student funds (which are provided by EVERYONE) when they discriminate against other students. Why is that so hard to deal with?
That in it self treats THEIR club different from others.. Why can,t you see that..If you can have a fat peoples club and get funding , or a skinny club and get funding , then this group should be treated the same , In the skinny club you had to be skinny, in the fat club you had to be fat ,, In the Christian club you had to be Christian , SO YOU would say I don,t like their rules so don,t fund them / You need to study that .
Wow, that article hits a little close to home.
If Christians don,t stand for something, then they will fall for anything.. Have a great day .. Jesus said this day was comming. He didn,t say this soon…
Virgil Renfroe which club is being treated different? I looked up the list of clubs at Vanderbilt and I didn't see a fat or skinny club, so it sounds like you are making up policies for clubs that don't exist. Please provide a link to these clubs and their discriminatory policies.
THe Vanderbelt non– discrimination, policy is just like the ones in totalitarian societies (, believe as you wish as long as we like it ).Freedom means that you will sometimes hear things you don, t like, Everyone at that school is paying to be there , Part of learning is to live and let live. If you don, t like what a club believes don, t join. Even you anti God people should have sence to see the danger here. Take their right and it may be yours next. Now people shouldn, t put up with this crap ruling at this school. If you believe in a God , take your kids out , don, t give them your money , Don, t support ANY politician who supports them , Build another college , don, t go there at all , that's the real way to solve it..
I really fail to see how this is such a thing to worry about, this has been going on for a long while ever since SCOTUS ruled over 4 decades ago that it's unconstitutional to hold prayers in public schools. And yes I know that Vanderbilt is a private university and it may not apply to them, but that still doesn't mean they can't voluntary try to be neutral with everyone. And finally, so? America is becoming increasingly diversified, and that means that Americans will have more religious beliefs to follow, having only a christian organization to allow prayers and worship is basically saying that christianity is superior to Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and all other religions. I'm willing to bet that you people would not be crying foul about this if these organizations were Islam organizations.
The school actually does have a Muslim group. I don't see any mention of them getting hit up about this. I wonder if they let a bunch of gays and Christians join their club.
I do agree that I fail to see this is a big deal. If you are not a Christian don't try to join a Christian group. Join your own group. If you don't want to have to lead prayer services for a Christian group then don't be the leader of a Christian group.
Roger Tienter I think when they mean a ban of religious group on school grounds, I think that would also include muslims. As for why we haven't seen them get up in arms about this, I believe it's less that they are concerned about this as no one is covering they're side on this. Let's be honest, Fox News is not really friendly towards muslim and has been more focused on christianity and how they're religious freedom is being attacked.
Roger Tienter I think when they mean a ban of religious group on school grounds, I think that would also include muslims. As for why we haven't seen them get up in arms about this, I believe it's less that they are concerned about this as no one is covering they're side on this. Let's be honest, Fox News is not really friendly towards muslim and has been more focused on christianity and how they're religious freedom is being attacked.
Andrew Eden-Balfour I actually went and found the school paper called Inside Vandy. The rule is that they cannot require people, particularly leaders to be of a certain faith so a religious group would have to allow someone not of that religion to run for president. The person could be voted down and could complain and the group would come under scrutiny. Sounds like a waste of time and people just trying to be pains to me. If you are not of a religious faith the only reason to join an organization of that faith is to be a jerk.
Andrew Eden-Balfour I actually went and found the school paper called Inside Vandy. The rule is that they cannot require people, particularly leaders to be of a certain faith so a religious group would have to allow someone not of that religion to run for president. The person could be voted down and could complain and the group would come under scrutiny. Sounds like a waste of time and people just trying to be pains to me. If you are not of a religious faith the only reason to join an organization of that faith is to be a jerk.
Very disturbing.
If Christians are in fact driven underground. They will become radical and violent. I mean why not?
Tennessee should legislate that any discriminatory behavior like this should require the pulling of all state funding for the college. The US House & Senate should do the same.
There is after all one answer…Parents…do NOT send your children there…why in the world would someone put up with that crap? AND…paying tons of money to boot…Payback time fellows…take your children out of there…they are NOT that important…they will continue to bully students unless you get out and take your money with you…sue them for harassment…the Atheists do it all the time…retribution and payback can be a b–ch…
Don't these students understand that this is exactly what the real world is like? When you graduate college all your employers will ever care about is your feelings, what they can do to help your self esteem, constantly worry over never offending you, and certainly making sure you feel nurtured and protected in the corporate environment.
Does anyone actually wonder why our country is circling the drain?
I'd love to see what would happen if a Jewish student attempted to join the muslim students groups? what is an anti-gay person got elected to a campus LGBT support group? ohhh… we couldn't have that! What would a politically correct joke that is Vanderbuilt to do without capitualtion to certain selected and protected groups?
what this basically boils down to is that the college is afraid of being sued by a lone student who is unhappy about the fact that he / she / it was not accepted into a certain group because they did not hold the same beliefs… would this be happening if this were a muslim group saying to a Christian student you cant be our leader because you are not a muslim? I would very much like to see that happen… if it did then the university could righteously say they have a true and total non discrimination policy… or a "straight" person trying to be the head of the colleges gay/lesbian groups… it wont happen… simply because the college knows if it did act the same way to these other groups they would be sued in a heart beat… but because of the liberal war on a moral way of life called Christianity it has become socially acceptable to deny Christians their freedom of religion and freedom of speech rights…
I live in a country where they are recovering from 51 years without God. The only 'god' they knew was their government that ruled with an iron fist and made people afraid and took from the people their freedom, their faith, their homes, their land, their money, there identity. This so called 'god' told them that they will "spread the wealth" and make everyone the "same" no rich no poor..and what ended up happening, they made people feel like "a no-buddy". It did so much damage to this nation and others around them that were in the grip of this government that taught little children, "there is no God", but you can trust us. Well this government, this man made 'god" collapsed 20 years ago…Faith, Hope and Love came right back in..and believe me it will be a long time for this and other nations to heal from the last 51 years. But the big question I am getting from my friends in this country is "Why is America falling into the very thing we got out of, isn't America a Christian Country"? I was just shocked….
EXCELLENT post!
Wonderful post David I work in Sarajevo and attest to everything youare saying. God save AMERICA> Thank God He s in charge.
Onward Christian Soldiers….don't let them make us hide our beliefs. This has become a disease in our country…now is the time to fight and show them we will not faulter!
"Totalitarianism" Of, relating to, being, or imposing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is suppressed.
This is all very sad. Christians need to separate themselves from the world, and fast. The anti Christian trend in AmeriKKKa is only going to get worse. When 2 generations have nothing but situational ethics and KumBaiYa idiocy to guide them, ANY moral code or belief system is terrifying.
You would prefer the ethics and morals of your yahweh,Brad? The god of the hebrews?Oh yeah what a great and powerfully loving creator lol! Like the time he commanded his followers to murder women and children? Thats terrifying! Good thing it was just a story…
So churches can require their leaders to be a specific religion but a private university that passes a non-discrimination regulation requiring non-discrimination of religion is somehow hostile? There is no "war on Christianity" there is a war for equal treatment. Don't let the pundits fool you, this is simply a call for equal treatment when these organizations have enjoyed special treatment for far to long.
So churches can require their leaders to be a specific religion but a private university that passes a non-discrimination regulation requiring non-discrimination of religion is somehow hostile? There is no "war on Christianity" there is a war for equal treatment. Don't let the pundits fool you, this is simply a call for equal treatment when these organizations have enjoyed special treatment for far to long.
Its a non-discrimination policy? Except its discriminating against Christians….or "religious" groups as they put it.
Private institutions, like universities, have the right to make their own policies and the student body and teaching body have to abide by those policies. What bothers me about this institution is the "logic" behind their policy, the inconsistency of it. It defeats the purpose of anti-discrimination/non-discrimination when by making this policy you will be discriminating against a group, in this case, religious groups. It's like saying a white person should be the president of the NAACP(he's not by the way, he's half black), a Heterosexual should be the President of the LGBT Organization, a Hearing person should be the President of the DHHS (Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society), or an Atheist should be the President of the SBC(Southern Baptist Convention), or a Christian/or Muslim/ or Mormon, the President of the AAI(Atheist Alliance International) it's illogical.
It's NOT discrimination to say that a leader of a group has to abide by the standards and beliefs of that group. Does not the president of this country have to be an American Citizen to be eligible for election? Imagine a native from the deep jungles of the amazon coming to this country and showing up at the white house saying in his/her own native language I want to be president of this country! A person with no knowledge of the english language, or this society, or american culture, or history or anything. Of course no one would think its discrimination to reject the native's request. But who knows, America has lost itself in its "Political Correctness" madness. I'm sure someone would play the Race card, or the Gay card, or the Political Correctness Card, even though the law says that whoever runs for president must be an American Citizen.
Rita Tomassetti To be fair they are not saying they have to let them be president. They are saying they have to let one of those oddballs join the group and have to let them run for president. They don't actually have to elect them. Although I suppose if a group is flooded with oddballs they could take it over.
If this is the schools policy that is fine but until they get rid of this exclusion list they are discriminating against religious groups.
Roger Tienter the thing is while the wording of the policy might mean that, the end result is as you said a flood of "oddballs" taking over. It's still illogical. When they thought about this policy they knew the implications of it. They must have, because when you follow the policy to it's logical conclusion that is what it leads to. If we make them take the oddballs in, they then can run for president and if there are enough of them in, an oddball can be elected.
But sadly it's their policy, they're a private institution and people will just have to abide by it. I say those groups should just become unofficial and obtain their fundings through other means, and not compromise. But they shouldn't leave, we are called to be a light in the darkness of this world.
To those that say this isn't an attack on Religion and they are just trying to make things "fair" for everyone. Vanderbilt has had this non discrimination policy for a long time. What they do to get around it for certain groups is they have an exclusion list. What ever student organization is on this list doesn't have to comply with this non discrimination policy. Until now religious organizations were on this list. They specifically removed religious organizations off this list. What's funny is some of the organizations left on the list. For Example: Muslim Law Student Association, Dores for Israel, Dores for Palestine. How do these still have a protected status? If it stays the link to this information is below. As you can see it is right off vanderbilt's own website.
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ead/orgs.html
we are becoming the middle east, soon it will be illegal to be a christian, go ahead, laugh now, ask the christians in egypt if its funny.
I am searching to understand this…Christian groups are not ok, so that would mean no gosphel singing groups as well…..Fraternities and Soroities are ok; eventhough, they encourage binge drinking and are responsible for rampant student DUI in many college towns due to the parties they hold every weekend…..They are not held accountable for the excessive drinking done by their "guests."….So where are the univerisity's priorities?
Interesting that a Chinese student spoke about his underground church…seriously concerned for our country!
This is going to far. The Chinese student who spoke certinaly knows what is coming. He lived it in China.
This is not an issue of Christians being persecuted folks! The issue is whether or not you should be allowed to have an organization, with standards. If yes, then most organizations will descriminate in some way. We only want to change the ones that we don't like. We all should be fighting to allow of them to exist, even the ones we don't like. Stop bickering over christian vs atheist and wake up! It is liberty or tyranny that is at stake here.
WELL STATED, Son.
You have to wonder what would happen if the student population as a whole would stage a massive protest and bring national attention to the issue. They should skip a day of class, surround the presidents office, tie a black cloth around their mouth, sit down and refuse to move until either hundreds are arrested or the national media brings such focus on the issue that these people decide to capitulate. If they did it in mass it would be hard to dismiss it.
ANY group can still exist, they just cannot use the university name or funding.
What do you expect from a Communist university?
Bible illiteracy and anti-Christian bigotry go hand in hand in a secular communist society. We won the cold war battle against Russia but lost the war of protecting our nation’s sovereignty under God. The good news is, true Christians will be given an opportunity to witness in their own backyard in ways like our brothers and sisters do in foreign countries. I have long believed that it was only a matter of time before our Christian organizations would have to meet in secret in our own country. I believe the people must stand and defend their rights to practice their faith but at the same time they better be preparing for the day they must meet in secret.
Another case of organizations opting out of the hard decisions they might have to defend in court in a politically correct atmosphere. Nothing new. Everytime a business, school, or other organization does this, it erodes the ability of others to defend rightful actions. I get they are trying to avoid future lawsuits, but it is cowardice, plain and simple.
Best solution for the Christian groups is to withdraw support, refuse funding and meet outside the university.
The first problem is that a public University should not be doling out money, offices, or supplies to ANY student groups. As soon as you do, the University starts playing favorities. Second, if this game is going to be played then the Christian groups should 'mob' any or all the other groups and then join, recall & elect themselves as the representatives, effectively shutting them down. Third, every individual in the Christian groups need to start filing the same kinds of complaints with the University, (especially since it appears it only takes one complaint) against all the other student groups on campus. And then keep it up, each and every week, the entire school year. Once the University starts spending real money looking into a thousand or so complaints then they will get some sense.
Let's look at this civilly: If you want to use the Vanderbilt University (private btw) name, be a registered organization, and get University money, you must abide by non-discrimination rules. There no forcing underground: "unregistered groups…They are allowed to exist and freely assemble" So why the hyperbole about underground churches? Basically I can't start a registered club and say" Hey, everyone who wants to be president has to be pro-life/straight/protestant" Makes sense. You won't want a registered club saying all president and officials have to be white/Catholic/atheist- Hey let the people vote for who they want.
Hey for people bringing up the Constitution, you do know it has a similar provision right?- Basically there can be no religious test for President of the US. Seems like kinda the same exact principle the founding father used, Vanderbilt is using.
Actually you are incorrect. YOu only have to follow their rules if you are not excluded from following their rules. The relgious organziations there were on the exclusion list…along with many other organizations that still are. They purposely attacked the religious groups by taking them off the list.
@ Roger Tienter – Is that "attacking the religious groups" or just putting them on equal terms with every other group. Religious groups and non-religious group both cannot discriminate while using University money and name; presumably because it's a reflection of nature and principles of the University. Sounds fair to me.
Tony Lamar Ivey Reading fail? did you not see that the school has an exclusion list of groups that do not have to follow the policy? Did you not see that the religious groups were on the list and then were removed. Here is the list of groups that are protected from the policy:
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ead/orgs.html
Roger Tienter- Hmmmm… i followed the link, but I didnt see what you talking about. Are you saying the the religious groups where unfairly taken off this 'exclusion list'? If so that may be because they've gotten complaints of discrimination as seen in the original article above. Btw can you provide a link to the list of clubs that are on this 'exclusion list'- meaning they are registered clubs yet are exempt from Vanderbilt's discrimination policy.
Roger Tienter- Oh i see. So you are saying that certain groups ie. the one mentioned, got taken of Vanerbilt's Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action list, which according to you, are exempt from the anti-discrimination policy. If so that is a bit troubling, however it is worth noting that discrimination complaints have been brought up against these clubs, which may of been the cause of the change in policy.
However how can they been exempt from that policy if under the 'obligations' tab on the website it lists their anti-discimination policy? That and the above statement that all student organizations are subject to the policy. Do you have a list of non-exmept clubs, for greater clarification?
It boils down to a dictatorship: You must believe what we believe, even if it goes against your principals.
Fortune says these groups are using both the Vanderbilt name and funding. University funds should go toward endeavors of education, not religion. This is not war on religion, this is a University doing what it was created to do.
So by your statement all athletic programs should be dropped. The Black clubs should be dropped. The Jewish clubs should be dropped. The Muslim clubs should be dropped. All sororities and frats should be dropped. Spending money on any of those endeavors doesn't increase education after all.
Roger Tienter Groups that are about practicing a religion should be dropped. The history of religion would be a viable group. People dedicate their lives to the study of a sport. Learning takes place at athletic programs. And while this does not adhere to the specification of my initial statement, athletics have verifiable health benefits. Whether or not this is the role of a university can be argued, but it seems beneficial to promote health. So now that I've defended the usefulness of these groups, can you tell me why practicing religious groups should be granted university funding?
Noah Grove Actually know you didn't defend your statement at all. "University funds should go toward endeavors of education, not religion" By your own words any program or organization that does not promote education should receive no school funds. Also, athletic programs do not promote education beyond learning how to play your sport. Infact, athletic programs often end up making student focus more on their sport then education.
Roger Tienter I did defend my statement, I'm confused, did you miss something? You explicitly said in your response "athletic programs do not promote education beyond learning how to play your sport" which is precisely the education I was indicating. Refer to my earlier response, I think it is clear. Unless these "Black clubs" simply get together to say to each other "Yay we're black", I assume they learn about their history, or discuss current black people who are making a difference, or something of that nature. I was not in a Frat, but to my knowledge, they pay money to exist on university property. Maybe I'm wrong, but surely if any frat existed that was only accepting Christians or Muslims, they would get the boot. My main grief is, it is wrong to take university funds to promote a religious agenda. So, if in fact you are defending this, I'll ask a second time, can you tell me why practicing religious groups should be granted university funding?
“Our nondiscrimination policy applies equally to all registered student organizations,” Fortune said. “We’re simply saying if you are going to be a registered student organization and use the Vanderbilt name and university funding, and have the privileges afforded a registered student organization, then you need to comply with our nondiscrimination policy.”.
The solution is simple do not use the Universities name and or funding if you do not wish to comply with their rules!
“Our nondiscrimination policy applies equally to all registered student organizations,” Fortune said. “We’re simply saying if you are going to be a registered student organization and use the Vanderbilt name and university funding, and have the privileges afforded a registered student organization, then you need to comply with our nondiscrimination policy.”.
The solution is simple do not use the Universities name and or funding if you do not wish to comply with their rules!
OR make it fair and make the policy really apply to all registered student organizations. Which it doesn't. They have a list of student organizations that are exempt from the policy right on the schools own website.
Roger Tienter I would be interested in seeing that. Can you provide a link?
Patrick Mares http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ead/orgs.htm
Roger Tienter Perhaps I am just not seeing it.
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ead/orgs.html#a5
You all seem to be making this about homosexuality. Most Protestant denominations accept Gays and Lesbians. The Catholics and strict on behavior on ALL.
This is a ridiculous policy that will come back to bite them…… let's have a person confined to a wheelchair sue that they are not included in the football program. OR women sued to be included. Let's have a Muslim involved in the Israel Support group. A KKK members in an African American group… Robe and all.
Can you imagine a group forced to accept Ray Fleming and Jeffrey Don Davis and be forced to listen to them scream at each other the whole meeting?
Bruce, been in many churches and never heard one word about homosexuality. A few really rant against it, but look at the church Obama attended…. a lot of white hate ranted there.
Those of you who have seen my comments on here before know where I stand on religious discrimination, separation of church and state, etc. I am strongly in favor of inclusion and against discrimination of any sort. But this one is a bit different. If I am reading this correctly, the ban applies strictly to group leadership. Correct me if I am wrong, but the groups currently allow anyone of any religion to be a MEMBER of the group. I don't see what is so unreasonable about wanting the LEADER of the group to have the faith that the group is trying to promote. I wouldn't want a Christian or a Buddhist leading my Wiccan group any more than an atheist, Hindu or Wiccan should be leading a Christian group. The leader should be an active participant in, and well versed in, the religion that the group is promoting. That just seems common sense. Otherwise, how are they in any position to lead the group down the path it was meant to be on? Sorry Vanderbilt, but you are well off base on this one.
Vanderbilt began this process 150 years ago by selling out their integrity for millions of dollars offered by Andrew Carnegie if they would sever their relationship with the Methodist Church. The trustees fought a 50 year court battle with the church that ended when the US Supreme Court ruled that they could break ties with the church, despite the church's role in founding, and then faithfully supporting the university financially, just not at the level of Carnegie's fortune. With this backdrop, why should anyone be surprised at the university's hostility to historic definitions of Christian faith?
Jesus wants us to go a tell others about Him we should be able to do that anywhere. I know God said that we will be prescuted because of the one who challenged Him. But this anti-Christian movement has got to stop.
What "anti-Christian" movement? You still get to be Christian right? Get to go to church, talk about it, etc? Yep sure do.
Universities in this country have out-lived their usefulness.Universities have become their spring board and bully pulpit where all the flim flammers can gather to rally their perverted friends together and launch their blame the Christian campains.
They have educated many of our enemies and taught them all of our trade secrets. Our stupid grads even train foreign armies like Iraq and Afghanistan to fight with higher lethality so that 20 years from now when we have to defend our own interests we will take many more casualties for nothing.Hell, they (mis- educated) trained the 911 pilots to fly planes into the WTO! Now they (mis- educated) think they have the expertise to tell Christians when and how they should do this and that and what-ever?
Christians need their own militant political party like Hamas has. Then maybe in 20 years a militant Nationalist Christian Party could shut colleges like this down and start all over. Maybe then they would take us seriously and give us some respect to honor our rights. Maybe Christians need to grow some and take it all back?
Oh give me a break! I can't even read the entire thing the first sentence just pisses me off. "Some groups may have to go underground." Gtfo. This is some more ridiculous writing from Todd Starnes.
What boloney. What about the engineering students who advocate Newtonian mechanics or the socialist weenies that demand that it takes a village and a bevy of union thugs to get the grass side up?
Lenin did this tactic as well. Vanderbilt, bastion of Communist Atheism. http://www.endtimesurvivalguide.com
This is not an issue of promoting diversity. Think about it. Trying to be all inclusive has the goal of making all people think alike.
Vanderbilt is not attacking religion they are attacking Christians and American values. This trend is what you get when a majority (Christians) keep getting told to back up to a minority, and Christians continue comply and do what they are told and not think and act like sheep. This is kind of like Daniel and the Lion's Den.
This right here should sum up why this article is pointless and the people fighting the ruling are idiots.
“Our nondiscrimination policy applies equally to all registered student organizations,” Fortune said. “We’re simply saying if you are going to be a registered student organization and use the Vanderbilt name and university funding, and have the privileges afforded a registered student organization, then you need to comply with our nondiscrimination policy.”.
They aren't attacking religion. They are trying to prevent discrimination. If a Christian group wants to set up rules that specifically disallow a person from being a part or or leading the organization, then they cannot be a school sponsored group. Plain and simple. It's the ridiculous persecution complex Christians have that makes them believe this is discriminatory against them. That would be like white people claiming that the disestablishment of segregation in the 50's and 60's was discriminating against them.
Just go and make your own group that is not sponsored by the University and you can have whatever rules you want. Simple.
So…………….under this situation, Reinhard Heydrich (look him up!) could join the Jewish War Veteran's Association, and sue if he could not run for office?
This doesn't make any sense at all! Yeah, the group members shouldn't be required to hold certain beliefs (although I don't know why someone would want to be in a group that believed something you didn't). But for the group to have any sense of direction or unity, the group LEADERS have to be held to a certain standard. A Muslim group should have leaders that hold to Muslim beliefs. A Buddhist group should have leaders that hold to Buddhist beliefs. I could go on and on. It only makes sense that the LEADERS of a Christian group should hold to CHRISTIAN beliefs!
I think it's nice that Fox has given a man of no discernible talents or usefulness , a forum where like-minded paranoiac superstitious dimwits can come together and pretend to be 'persecuted.'
Not sure I'd use the word "nice". More like "useful for their purposes". There is nothing nice about Murdoch.
David L Allen I agree there's nothing nice about Murdoch, but I'm gettin' the feeling that his scheme to make the US into a neo-con utopia may have backfired.
The rabid ideological extremism promoted by Faux, Limbaugh, Coulter, etc, ad nauseum, is doing more to destroy the GOP than any fifth columnist that Lenin or Stalin could have ever plantedr. And if nothing else, it's bringing the crazies outta their caves and into the light.
Turns out that old Rupert may be the REAL "useful idiot" for the left.
Looks like Faux didn't approve of the mean things I said about their beloved Ol' Massa…
BERLIN WALL Erected by godless Vanderbiltites.
Yep, I would hate to endorse a group that stands for character, integrity, charity, peace, patience, sacrificial love, family values, serving the poor, temperance, hospitality etc… That would really put a bad face on the university. Wow! You can't have that.
I just hope they don't complain when these Christians call the non-christians to repent of their sin and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.