Should American Schools Build Footwashing Basins For Muslim Students?

Editors Note: This post is from a recent email debate between JB and NT regarding Minneapolis Community and Technical College's decision to install foot washing basins in the bathroom to accommodate the schools notable Muslim population. These thoughts represent the very divergent perspectives that can be found on the New Right.

FROM JB:

Warning: Controversial

Honestly, I do not think the school is out of line. And, if Muslim students are hurting themselves trying to observe their religion, I don't see a problem with the school providing a 'safe' environment to accommodate them.

As for the baptism argument (ridiculous as it is), most public schools do provide baptism basins; they're called swimming pools. I have seen this done many times.

I think it is important that we Christians do not hold double standards. Think about it like this, devout Muslim students are only trying to avoid sin (as they define it). We Christians would be happy to hear that our secular school/ employer/ government made accommodations in such a way that allowed Christians to avoid a sin dilemma.

Muslim prayer is a expression of their religion, just like Christian prayer around the school flag pool is and expression of Christian religion. Yeah it looks like MTCT is favoring Islam, but could it not be said that by not making reasonable accommodations for a segment of their students is in-itself discriminatory towards Islam? I feel pretty comfortable with these facilities so long that non-muslim students are not barred from using them.

As for the objection that the school is not making accommodations for other minority religions (i.e. Bahai', Hindu) I think an institution only has an obligation to make accommodations when a need is brought to their attention. To expect otherwise is unreasonable.

For me, what this boils down to, is how ridiculous this notion of "Separation Between Church and State" has become in this country. All humans are religious, and thus a total separation can not be obtained between the people and the people's institutions. As an American, and especially as a Christian, I value plurality and non-partiality. Because one day, I (a Christian) may find myself in the minority where my traditions are deem irrational, superstitious, and or dangerous. I can only hope, and pray, that the majority would tolerate my religion and allow me to practice it freely/peacefully.

When we as Christians rail against those institutions that appear to be showing partiality toward a religion other than our own, we only strengthen the aims and goals of those radical secularists who would like nothing more than to bring about a society free of all religion (Islamic or otherwise). Why should we (the majority in this Country) play the part of spoiled babies who whine whenever some other religion appears to have been given precedence over ours? Fairness????? Please.... the world (by this I mean the world without God) has never, nor will it, show complete fairness to the Gospel.

I guess I am for Religion more so than I am for this ridiculous definition of Separation. The more religious freedom in the country, the more foothold the Gospel will have. The more Islamic expression at MTCT, the more opportunity the Christian groups have to identify and build relationships with Muslims.

Also, what will the Muslim community think when the most prominate critic of MTCT's decision is not the secular humanists, but us Christians?

Matthew 28:19 (New International Version):

"19Therefore go and make disciples [NOT ENEMIES] of all nations, baptizing them [IN THE SCHOOL POOL, IF NECESSARY] in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

RESPONSE FROM NT:

JB,
With all due respect, I think you are mischaracterizing the argument for several reasons. I actually do not think the main objections to MCTC’s decision should be religiously motivated. The true question is, I believe, cultural dilution.

(1) First, however, I will address the religious freedom argument you make. For Christianity’s sake, I agree that our goal should be equal, free treatment. However, you presume that Christians are accommodated. There may be swimming pools, but public school systems built them for swimming, not baptizing. Can you point to examples of school’s remodeling a bathroom, or spending money, or any other overt accommodation for Christian religious expression? In this way the baptism argument is compelling, there are no equivalents, and it is hard to imagine a school doing construction work to accommodate Christian practice. Considering we already live in a country that accommodates others, and not Christianity, there is no real basis to conclude that allowing more religious freedom for Muslims will lead to more freedom for Christianity.
(2) The real argument, though, is in my opinion a cultural one. Do we believe enough in Western culture (influenced heavily and positively by Judeo/Christian tradition) to guard it. Put another way, is it something worth preserving. If it is not, build the Muslims a wash basin. Is our culture superior enough to expect
others to live within its confines and norms? Do we believe that
others will benefit from our culture? If we do believe in ourselves,we should guard against attacks against it and frown on resisting it.
(3) There is a dangerous trend brought on by this urge to
accommodate. This is the stratification of American society.
Allowing these gross deviations from the cultural norm will drive a
great chasm between these different communities. We will be a
society of us vs. them. There will be no common ground to bind us.
This lack of cohesion is poison to a society. One look at Europe
gives a vivid picture of where this leads. There, Muslim minorities have been highly accommodated. Saying that accommodation of Muslim practice in Europe has led to good results. British Muslims blow up the tube, the rift between Muslims and natives in Holland is unbridgeable. The list goes on. None of these accommodations has led to any similar accommodation of European Christians. It is unreasonable to expect the same to happen here. In fact, now much of Europe is trying a different tact, banning burquas in school, etc. Will it be good for America to be a country where cashiers refuse to check out pork, where bathrooms are especially outfitted for Muslims,where our very way of life is altered to accommodate cultural and religious minorities? I answer a clear no.
(4) What America need if it is to continue to thrive, lead the world, and be a force for good, is an unshakable confidence in its superior values, culture and way of life. Only when we believe in our own culture will America be able to lead the world and make it a better place, and hold it to a high standard. It is this lack of confidence or sense of superiority that leads to emasculated
prosecution of wars (Iraq), fear of drawing cartoons of Mohammad, and now building wash basins in schools for Muslims.
(5) So the question is, do we set a standard that all must live by, or do we set no standards that all must live by? No standards, I argue, will lead to a diluted culture incapable of doing any good in the world. Must four centuries of the American way of life give way give way to a new minority? Does this majority have the right to insist that its way of life not be altered? I say yes, for the sake of America, and the sake of the world.