In the style and tradition of American history, Wheaton College is giving us a grave lesson on how institutionalized discrimination begins. In a society where personal, religious beliefs are protected by law, Muslims have faced serious persecution and Larycia Hawkins, a Christian professor, made a bold move to stand in solidarity with them. Despite their assertion for the need of “theological clarity,” Wheaton College has cloaked their Islamophobia behind a theological veil claiming that Larycia Hawkins violated their statement of faith. Wheaton College takes a fundamental stance asserting that not only do Larycia’s statements fail to uphold the College’s beliefs, but are also blasphemous in both the Islamic and Christian sense. While Wheaton College has found support in this stance, it is clear that the only misperception here is the College’s camouflaged stance against Islam. However, in taking this stance, Wheaton has opened itself to criticism while generating much support for Larycia who, like others say her statements contribute to the reconciliation of different faiths.
In a letter addressing the College’s concerns, Provost Stanton Jones asks Larycia to clarify her conviction that “‘We worship the same God’ and ‘I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book.’” Clarification of this, however, is clearly not what is sought here as Jones, after quoting two of the twelve Statements of Faith, refers Larycia to the Quran’s Surah 4:171 whose first words are “People of the Book.” It is hard to believe that Jones was unaware of this as he explains the contents of the verse. It is equally hard to believe that Jones is unaware of the Quran’s Surah 4:163 when he asks Larycia to “clarify how it is that we worship the same God if Muslims cannot affirm that God is the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?” Surah 4:163, which reads, in part “…We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the offspring of Jacob, and Jesus…” is only eight verses before the first verse Jones referenced and six verses after Jones’ second Quranic reference (Surah 4:157) later in his letter. Jones’ knowledge notwithstanding however, Professor Denny Burke, of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is quoted in the Chicago Tribune saying “We’re people of the book, but our books are very different.” Wheaton has even found support among some students. In this same article, David Burnham, a 21 year old college junior asserts “By placing her on leave, the school says it doesn’t believe Muslims and Christians worship the same God…The college had no choice.” An opponent of this view, Dan Wheeler, writing an opinion for CNN asserts that “Many theologians hold the view that the three Abrahamic faiths worship the same God.” He goes on to ask “Why couldn’t Wheaton take this opportunity to explain to the public its unique view…? It’s in the education business, so why not educate people?” It is well known that Islam and Christianity are two different religions and that they worship God differently; however, I do not believe that Larycia’s statements about the similarities shared by the religions rise to the level of possible loss of tenure and dismissal nor be classified as blasphemy. Dean Obeidallah, another CNN opinion writer agrees declaring “This [suspension and possible termination] is especially offensive when one considers that Hawkins’ sentiments were theologically correct and her action, in standing up for the persecuted, exemplified the teachings of Jesus.” In standing up for Muslims, Larycia “[dared] to call fellow humans who happen to be Muslims [her] brothers and sisters,” and again Wheaton College took issue stating that “It is on the basis of [the] resurrection power that we become children of God—brothers and sisters in Chris Jesus,” even though one of the Statements of Faith reads “WE BELIEVE that God directly created Adam and Eve, the historical parents of the entire human race…” Dan Wheeler, whose opinion for CNN is titled Do Christian Colleges Practice What They Preach,” asks “What about listening to the actual words of Jesus…what about 1 John 4:18: ‘There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear’?” Wheeler finishes his opinion with an admonition against this type of discrimination saying, “At a time when we need to see more tolerance and understanding from evangelical leaders, we’re instead seeing fear. Christians can do better than that.” Larycia Hawkins herself decries this institutionalized discrimination stating “Wheaton College will never induce me to kowtow to their doublespeak concerning the Statement of Faith…” Bob Smietana, writing for Christianity Today sums it up saying “I wonder if people who say that [Muslims worship a different God] would make the same charge against Jews…” Wheaton’s challenges to Larycia’s statements are truly what confuses the issue with their “doublespeak,” as Larycia calls it. In the face of terrorists claiming to be acting in the name of Islam, Wheaton College has chosen to set itself apart from all things Islam thereby joining in the same Islamophobia Larycia has chosen to stand against. Instead of commending and standing with Larycia, they chose to use her and hold her up as the example not to follow. It has never been more clear to me that this type of collegiate stance against doing what is right is what has allowed discrimination to keep its foothold on society. Truly we are witnessing a new birth of an old American tradition that should have died with slavery’s end. The only way for this birth to be aborted, however, is for Wheaton College to admit they are wrong, apologize to and reinstate Larycia Hawkins and begin the public dialogue which is necessary to bridge the gap between peoples of different faiths. Unfortunately, we Christians do not believe in abortion. But there is still hope. Dan Wheeler observes that Larycia’s action “seems to have bridged a religious divide that no amount of lecturing or finger-waving could ever achieve.” I have to agree. Comments are closed.
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