By Halcyon Orvendal
Lewis & Clark is ranked the second least religious college in the United States by the Princeton Review. Thus, it can easily be considered a secular campus. This does not mean that it is a campus without religion. A non-religious campus is not a place that prohibits religion. Instead, it becomes a place where many religions can comfortably and safely practice, ideally without judgment from other students, whether religious, atheist, agnostic, or any other belief.
Ideally, a non-religious campus should be able to create a safe space where everyone is able to coexist, regardless of beliefs. It should open the door to exploration of various faiths and religions and allow students to question their beliefs healthily. In my own experience, there has been little to no pressure to conform to a belief system, and while attending LC, I have been free to explore varying belief systems as I would like.
The idea that non-belief is a religion in and of itself, an idea I agree with, deserves a mention, especially on a campus like LC, where so many students form belief systems based on moral concerns and activism. Regardless of the specific belief system, religious or otherwise, in my experience, people tend to base their behavior off a set of beliefs and subsequent moral standards. On a secular campus like LC, the belief system of religion is often seen to be replaced with one’s care for the environment, or belief in social justice. It is not a bad thing to have something to center your worldview and your beliefs on. Being an avid and passionate environmentalist, for example, is a perfectly good base for what some might call faith.
Of course, belief can always be taken too far. There is no shortage of people complaining that others are too extreme in their beliefs, as can be seen in the online reactions to the videos of some climate activists throwing soup on the Mona Lisa, or claiming that some people are simply too sensitive. But this is not just a gripe against secular belief systems. There are many stories of religious beliefs taken too far. Extremism, regardless of what one is being extreme about, is rarely ideal, or enjoyable for the people around you.
Being on a secular campus allows students to practice the beliefs they brought with them to college, and grants them the opportunity to explore new beliefs if that is an option they are interested in. Regardless, the Agnes Flanagan Chapel, spiritual clubs and services all help to create spaces for students to engage in their religious beliefs.
Being a non-religious campus allows LC the opportunity to be more flexible with its venues as well. It is well-known that the chapel is a popular venue for various events, including lectures, drag shows, music and theatre productions. Sure, a traditional chapel may not be the best venue for a more risqué production, but the environment created on the LC campus allows for the chapel to be used for more than just religious services. It removes some of the stigma around the chapel itself and creates a more welcoming space for students of any faith.
Ultimately, LC being a secular campus is an overall positive factor to the school’s environment. It is not an atheistic or agnostic space, but rather, a neutral space that allows for the mingling and existence of all, rather than the promotion of one.
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