On Religious Grounds: In Christian schools, word of God dictates school rules
By Katie Walsh
Posted: 10/12/05, 12:14 AM EST Section: Pulp
Last year, Jeffrey Schafers could have used some help from Kevin Bacon.
Schafers, a sophomore at Truman State University in Missouri, attended Taylor University, a Christian college that has rules preventing students from, among other things, dancing. And while it wasn't quite "Footloose," Schafers found himself at a loss as to how he could live with this rule.
"It felt like the Soviet Union," Schafers said. "A lot of students wanted to dance, but if you did, there were others who would turn you in."
Schafers knew of Taylor's staunch Christian policies, but chose to enroll anyway because of the school's strong accounting program. Within a month, he had decided to transfer.
"I really didn't think the administration would enforce the rules as strictly as they did," Schafers said. "I made some great friends at Taylor, but there is no way I would be able to survive four years there."
Tens of thousands of students across the country decide to attend Christian colleges every year. These schools were established largely to guide young adults in their pursuit of a life modeled by Jesus Christ, and base their rules on biblical principles and interpretations. While regulations vary from school to school, many maintain stringent anti-drinking, tobacco and dancing policies.
Although these types of rules may seem out of date and ultra-traditional to some, they fit into the Christian lifestyles of students at schools such as Taylor, Wheaton College and Bob Jones University. Specific documents outlining the school's policies are popular at many Christian colleges, and most require students to sign them before attending.
According to Kristen Eggert, a sophomore at Wheaton, the college's Community Covenant has been in effect since the mid-1800s and undergoes changes when deemed appropriate by the college. Administrators revised the Covenant two years ago and now permit students to dance at approved school functions.
"It used to be a lot more rigid," Eggert said. "The new rules leave a lot of issues, such as using profanity and gambling off campus, up to individual judgment."
Schafers, a sophomore at Truman State University in Missouri, attended Taylor University, a Christian college that has rules preventing students from, among other things, dancing. And while it wasn't quite "Footloose," Schafers found himself at a loss as to how he could live with this rule.
"It felt like the Soviet Union," Schafers said. "A lot of students wanted to dance, but if you did, there were others who would turn you in."
Schafers knew of Taylor's staunch Christian policies, but chose to enroll anyway because of the school's strong accounting program. Within a month, he had decided to transfer.
"I really didn't think the administration would enforce the rules as strictly as they did," Schafers said. "I made some great friends at Taylor, but there is no way I would be able to survive four years there."
Tens of thousands of students across the country decide to attend Christian colleges every year. These schools were established largely to guide young adults in their pursuit of a life modeled by Jesus Christ, and base their rules on biblical principles and interpretations. While regulations vary from school to school, many maintain stringent anti-drinking, tobacco and dancing policies.
Although these types of rules may seem out of date and ultra-traditional to some, they fit into the Christian lifestyles of students at schools such as Taylor, Wheaton College and Bob Jones University. Specific documents outlining the school's policies are popular at many Christian colleges, and most require students to sign them before attending.
According to Kristen Eggert, a sophomore at Wheaton, the college's Community Covenant has been in effect since the mid-1800s and undergoes changes when deemed appropriate by the college. Administrators revised the Covenant two years ago and now permit students to dance at approved school functions.
"It used to be a lot more rigid," Eggert said. "The new rules leave a lot of issues, such as using profanity and gambling off campus, up to individual judgment."
