College Students Refuse To Read Award-Winning Novel Because It Violates Their Christian Beliefs
I get that Christians do not approve of homosexuality and that it goes against their religious beliefs. But is reading a book based on a true story of a girl realizing she is gay and finding out her father (who committed suicide) was gay?
I am not a buddhist, taoist, or racist, but I have read books on all of those (from their point of view).
>>Is simply being required to read something a violation of religious beliefs?<<
Yes, I believe in many cases it would be.
Except this is not one of them. This is not required reading according to Duke reps. So why all the controversy?
I read Duke’s own report on this
http://abc11.com/education/duke-university-responds-to-summer-reading-controversy-/954913/ and at least 3 times in the article they refer to it as a “graphic novel.” Meaning sexually graphic, homosexual sex. As a devout Christian, I would very much expect most of them would find this highly objectionable and I would back them on it entirely. Only those who know so little about God and His revelations would dismiss this as over-reactionary or something of the sort. Again, no surprise there.
But I also question the staff at Duke even suggesting this as incoming freshmen summer reading. Is there something honorable or spiritually uplifting about being risqué with sexual matters? No. It is deplorable for Duke and alleged private Christian institution.
But who am I to speak out? There are so many Catholic colleges not worthy of their name in the least because of their sinful ways, I do not have a foot to stand on. This nation is morally adrift.