It’s a great thing that Hillsdale isn’t a Christian college.
No, the Collegian staff isn’t comprised of a horde of godless journalists. We’re a sampling of campus — a diverse mix of Catholics, Lutherans, non-denominationals, and agnostics — a wonderful blend of religious ideals.
Just ask Princeton review. They said our students are the fourth most religious in the country. Amidst all the Jesuit, Jewish, and Baptist universities in America, we are in the top five for religious students. And with good reason.
We have clubs and organizations fostering a myriad of Judeo-Christian sects. Over lunch, students converse about theology, doctrine, and even the proper order of a church service.
Many of these other colleges, which commit themselves to one specific flavor of religion, suffocate the natural pursuit of truth and knowledge that comes with getting a college degree. When those students sign a contract saying they will be “Methodist only,” how can they ever explore Catholic dogma with any real seriousness? Where does the honest, civil debate on sacraments and holy living come in?
That’s what makes Hillsdale such a unique place for religious exploration. Often students, whether by their own accord or coerced by their parents, go to colleges where their faith won’t get challenged — intentionally. They don’t want orthodox professors trashing their contemporary worship style. That scares some people, but it shouldn’t.
Also, because of the voluntary nature of religion at Hillsdale, we see much less “forced religiosity.” People go to church, attend Bible studies, and pray because they want to, not because the Dean forces them to with threats of a missing diploma. If you don’t want to be religious at all, you don’t have to be. An R.A. can’t drag you out of bed to go to morning worship.
This sincerity of faith is rare and it’s wonderful, and something Hillsdale should fight to protect.
