For anyone who doesn’t know, Brigham Young University is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is owned and operated by the Church of Latter Day Saints, commonly called ‘Mormons.’ Everything which happens at the university is controlled by the leaders of the Mormon Church. It is no surprise that there is a strict “Honor Code.” This Honor Code is the law for students attending the university.
Last Friday about 300 students marched to the Honor Code Office chanting “God forgives me, why can’t you?”
“Students allege that the university is mistreating victims of sexual assault and harassment, especially women and LGBTQ students.”
The students claim that the university used the code against men and women who filed a grievance and refused to punish the offenders.
I have read about policy at multiple “Christian” universities. This appears to be ‘standard operating procedure.’ Virtually every instance of sexual assault is ignored and the victims are frequently punished and blamed for the offense. In all of these universities it is considered a “sin” to be a member of the LGBTQ community.
Most of you know that I reject all organized religion. However, I strongly support any individual who choses to be a devout follower of Jesus Christ, Mohammad, the Tora, or any other religious doctrine. My complaint lies with the millions of Americans, including our president and congress, who use their fake-religious beliefs for political and financial gain.
A perfect example is Vice-President Mike Pence. His claim to be a devout Christian is a lie. He is judgmental and chooses only parts of the old testament in the Bible which support his personal prejudices. He completely ignores the new testament and the instructions of Jesus Christ. Pence is the leader of homophobes in America.
This historical protest at BYU gives me hope. For years the Christian religious right lobby has ordered the Republican Party to involve personal issues in our political system for the sole purpose of supporting their fake-Christian agenda.
Every day Republicans violate the first amendment by supporting the demands of a single religion. The beginning of the Bill of Rights covers the religious rights of all Americans. In case you have not read the first amendment, which would be a shame, here is what our founding fathers believed were the most important rights guaranteed to all Americans.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Final facts; more millennials reject organized religion than at any other time in our nation’s history; they are America’s largest voting bloc. Younger Americans who choose to be members of a religion are more likely to select the religion of Islam than any other.
America is changing, and changing for the better. The people are supporting the Constitution in its entirety, unlike our politicians in Washington. Our nation is becoming more diverse every day, and our nation is far better for this fact.
Tell your friends; “The Truth Lives Here.”
Op-ed by James Turnage
Photo courtesy of Ken Lund
Read “A Little Murder in the Biggest Little City,” by James Turnage on Amazon’s free Kindle app
The Truth With No Restrictions 