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Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Bigotry at Cornerstone University

On Monday and Tuesday in Grand Rapids we will see the difference between those who call themselves Christian and those who act like Christians.

A bussload of young Christian gay men and women, called Soulforce, will be coming to Grand Rapids to protest bigoted anti-gay policies at two local colleges - Cornerstone University and Calvin College.

Each of the two schools has a policy that discriminates against gays. For instance, Cornerstone's student handbook has the following guideline:

"Television

Students are to exercise discernment in television viewing based on the above guidelines. Beyond considerations regarding the content of a program, the discerning believer must also consider the point of view or judgments that are made regarding certain issues. Subjects like racism or homosexuality may be portrayed in a program, but consideration should be given as to whether the subject is ultimately celebrated or condemned. "


So, basically, Cornerstone students are prohibited from watching anything on TV which casts a positive light on gays.

However, the most telling part of this saga is the reaction to the visit by both Conerstone and Calvin. To get any sort of in-depth coverage, one has to turn to the Detroit News:

As two Grand Rapids colleges they'll visit in late April illustrate, sometimes they're welcome, other times they're not.

Rex Rogers, the president of Cornerstone University who claims in his blog that gays are in the "grip of sin," warns Riders won't be allowed on campus because, in his view, their "purpose is to undermine and attack the very basic biblical values that we say we believe in."

Down the road, Calvin College also teaches that gay sex is wrong but is inviting Riders to a worship service, meals and to tell "what it's like to have been on a bus ride for two months on a cause you believed in," says Shirley Hoogstra, vice president for student life. The Riders offer her students a chance "to welcome well the stranger at your gate," she adds.


It sounds like Cornerstone is simply afraid to let students even talk to the Soulforce riders. They might actually make sense! Well, we can't have hearts and minds changed, now can we?

Of course, we believe that any private institution has the right to make its own rules and those who enter those institutions should understand and abide by those rules. However, the Soulforce people are simply attempting to change hearts and minds by showing people that gays are just regular people who want to live their lives in peace.

Cornerstone could take some lessons from Calvin on how to act like true Christians toward their fellow human beings.

3 comments:

  1. I'm a Cornerstone alumni and I agree with your last statement. The administration does not speak for everyone on the campus and there is a dishearten cry, rising among a lot of us, on how the leadership has acted thus far. It saddens me, that the university I attended is being dragged through the mud, based on statements made by a few. I for one, will be at Cornerstone on Monday in favor of Soulforce's visit.

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  2. As a CU student, are you aware that the CU institution promoted the students to go out to talk to them? As well as it is shotty timing to have a controversial debate so close to finals? More so Soulforce is also eating at a prof's (who teaches at CU) home?

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  3. Does anybody consider that Soulforce was simply asked not to come? When CU responded that they were not asked to come on campus they simply came anyways. Soulforce obviously came with an agenda. As soon as the cameras were turned on Soulforce had decided to enter campus... shocking! These riders have the right to be homosexual but are obviously disrespectful as well but CU is made out to be the bad guy...

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