Earlier this year, actually, at the beginning of last month ...this being only February, news reached the media that Wheaton College had begun the process of firing Larycia Hawkins. Being a tenured associate professor of political science at the evangelical Christian school near Chicago, it was Hawkin's claim that she was suspended after she decided to wear a headscarf during the Advent season to show solidarity with Muslims ...and showing empathy towards them during this difficult time where a worsening world view and impression of radical elements mostly outside the faith has left many feeling isolated, while unfairly grouped within this growing hatred towards terrorist affiliations. This was the impression given by the article.
At the same time, she posted a message on Facebook, saying Christians and Muslims "worship
the same God."
"That felt really devastating to receive that news, given that I've committed nine years of my life to teaching in an institution that I really believe embodies the spirit of the liberal arts in a Christian context," Hawkins later said in an interview.
Hawkins argues that her Facebook post was "not actually a theological treatise but rather a statement that I stand in solidarity with women wearing the hijab, as I think Jesus would, as he came to embody what it means to love neighbor and love God and love yourself."
Wheaton College, for its part, has asserted that the school's decision had nothing to do with Hawkins' decision to wear the headscarf. "The freedom to wear a head scarf as a gesture of care and compassion for individuals in Muslim or other religious communities that may face discrimination or persecution is afforded to Dr. Hawkins as a faculty member of Wheaton College. Yet her recently expressed views, including that Muslims and Christians worship the same God, appear to be in conflict with the College's Statement of Faith."
Hawkins disagrees with the premise of the statement, "The post was not about theology. It was about solidarity, which is a Christian principle."
****************************Let us explore this a bit further, and let's look at the issues as they are. Differing perspectives are not always injurious, yet when the jury is in, should a decision be made without making a decision ...attempting to compromise, in the spirit of avoiding further division and unnecessary confusion??
Our friend Larycia has mentioned the scarf ...which the college said was not an issue. Yet, the secondary mention seems to be the primary issue ...of the 'same' God statement. On the one hand, if we are going to teach at all, there needs to be some consensus on what we teach, or we are merely teaching confusion ...or nothing at all. On the other hand, good teaching can include teaching more than one viewpoint, giving adequate and equitable value to each ...then letting each student decide what is right in their own mind.
This could be done ...if perhaps I could teach alongside our friend, Larycia, and present my viewpoint along with hers. She could keep her job and benefits, and I could bring my bit of sanity or insanity to the discussion. Of course, this all entails allowing you to have more than just one perspective ...or should we call it choice. Perhaps this is what Larycia feels she is already doing ...as the entire college seems to mostly disagree with her, and she is the one who is offering the alternative point of view. (Yet, it seems most of the entire mainstream media is making sure she does not feel too alone. What is life ...without knowing there are those who support you??)
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