Atheist students silenced
Concordia College is in a period of modernization. In the two and a half years I have called myself a Cobber, it seems like just about everything at the school has changed. The college has advanced technologically by adopting the new Banner system for everything from account information to registration and grades. The college has also become socially modernized from the radical changes that have taken place in the residence halls this year, specifically in regards to inter-visitation and co-ed dorms. Actions like these make many at the college feel like we are moving in the right direction—change not for the sake of change, but for the betterment of the school and the students as a whole.
This pride that I felt in the advancement and modernization of our school was recently destroyed when the true conservative nature of Concordia College reared its ugly head on Dec. 17. The college denied the formation of the student organization Concordia Atheists-Secular Students at Concordia College on the basis that atheism is not in compliance with “college standards,” despite the support it received from the Campus Ministry Office.
What “college standards” do atheists not meet? Are we not equal members of the Concordia community? Do we not share the same rights to express our religious views as those that participate in Sunday Night at East or in Tabernacle?
According to the most recent Concordia College Factbook published for the 2008-2009 academic year, upwards of 16 percent of the school population reports no religious affiliation. The group already has 60 members on Facebook, which, just as an example, is 37 more members than the Campus Republicans (a recognized organization) can claim. How can a school deny the recognition of such a sizable minority of its students?
The Concordia College student organization handbook clearly states that the college has the right to refuse the creation of any group that “degrades or objectifies women or men or their ethnic heritage, racial identity or religious beliefs.” By saying to Concordia’s atheists that their religious views aren’t in line with the college’s mission of being thoughtfully engaged in the world, the college has effectively degraded the views of their students.
Atheists share many values with academia, and Concordia in particular. My education at Concordia has been based on scientifically and objectively looking at an issue, rationally coming to a conclusion and articulately arguing on behalf of the conclusion I reach. This is exactly what atheists do every time they talk theists or even think about God. By objectively looking at the universe and scientifically understanding the lack of existence of a moral god, the atheists open their minds to new levels of scientific discovery unfettered by blind faith. By coming together in organizations like Concordia Atheists-Secular Students at Concordia College, atheist students Will be able to defend their views and articulate arguments based on the education we have received while enrolled here. This group also allows the opportunity for many theist students to explore, question, or even reaffirm their faith through thoughtful and respectful dialogues.
Every one of us has heard the mission statement, and its ending “dedicated to the Christian life.” Just as many of us have also heard how Concordia’s goal is not to make every student a practicing Lutheran by the time of graduation, but to help students expand their faith and religious views, whatever they may be.
By denying atheists the right to congregate and explore religion objectively and rationally, I feel the college is greatly hampering the spiritual exploration of a sizable portion of its student population.
