Last May, Wichita State University ordered employees to tear out all of the pews and the alter from a chapel in order to accommodate those of the Islamic religion. The pews were removed and portable chairs were brought in to make room for Muslim prayer rugs. The decision was made after a proposal was brought forth to continue to fulfill the wish of Mrs. Harvey D. Grace, who originally donated the funds for the chapel. Her will states "this chapel will be open to all creeds and to all races of people." However to make the chapel faith neutral, all typical Christian décor was removed. The decision has sparked so much controversy that the university president ordered that a committee be formed to study possible changes.
Would you be upset if this happened to you?
Critics of the decision are being accused of being Islamophobic. Do you think they are or aren't? Explain
My Opinion: I wouldn't be upset about the decision to "renovate" the chapel because the university was trying to fulfill the wish of the lady who donated the funds for the chapel. I would however be upset if the Muslims took over the chapel and always used it for their religion. It is more of a community building so it needs to be shared with the entire community. I do think the critics of the decision are being a little Islamophobic because the chapel was designed intended for all creeds and to all races of people, so the church was modified to fit that statement. It's not like the Muslims are invading our country and taking over every single church and converting everyone. Sometimes as Americans fighting the Taliban we forget that Islam is not bad, Radical Islam is.
Here is the Full Story:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/10/08/heartland-fury-as-university-renovates-chapel-to-accommodate-muslims.html?intcmp=ob_article_footer_text&intcmp=obinsite
Replies
Good summary! Be sure to hyperlink correctly. You also didn't reply to any student comments.
I do think that the school is doing a good thing trying to accommodate people of all races and religions, because I think that's what all schools should try to do to be more accepting. I think making the chapel as faith neutral is necessary, because it is a place worship for many religions, not just the Christian religion, and I think it would make people of different faith a little uncomfortable to practice their religion in the chapel and have it be covered with a specific faith's decor that they don't believe in. I think that its wrong to call critics of the decision Islamophobic, since I think the reason their upset is because they are more likely a part of the Christian faith and they don't want to see the chapel transformed into a place that doesn't have any hints of their religion on the walls, not necessarily because they do not want to be accepting of Muslims.
i would be upset exspecially since they went against what they woman was wanting for the church but instead put all the Muslims rugs and not making it where all colors and people can come in
I also would be upset because they are just make it better.