Student group trying to block Ratio Christi event

What do an atheist and the Christian CEO of Ratio Christi, a campus apologetics and evangelism ministry, have in common? Both are the subject of a protest in Utah. Dr. Corey Miller and Dr. Peter Boghossian are scheduled to speak on the state of free speech on college campuses at four universities in Utah. You can learn more about these events here.

Ironically, the discussion of free speech is being protested by a student group at Utah State University. The group states that they feel threatened that an atheist and a Christian are planning to discuss viewpoint diversity with students. They essentially claim that viewpoint diversity represents a threat to the inclusiveness on their campus.

The group calling themselves the Utah State University Anti-Racist Solidarity Group wrote an open letter protesting the event to USU president Cockett. To their credit the group has not asked that the event be canceled, they have only asked for consideration in future events.

A press release from Ratio Christi is included below.

Press Release

Lafayette, Indiana (February 4, 2020) – Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance’s Weber State chapter today received word that a student organization is protesting the chapter’s upcoming event A Christian and an Atheist Unite Against the Death of Intellectual Diversity at the University. The event, a bilateral discussion between atheist and Christian professors, is being held at neighboring Utah State University and is part of a four-stop tour. The group, calling themselves the USU Anti-Racist Solidarity Group, have written a letter to Utah State claiming that they, “do not feel safe,” and, “do not condone it taking place at our university.”

The event (https://www.facebook.com/events/173712503886371/) features Dr. Corey Miller, author, former professor, and President/CEO of Ratio Christi, and Dr. Peter Boghossian, professor and author. Miller and Boghossian, a Christian and an atheist, respectively, were invited to discuss free speech on the college campus.

The protesters focused on Boghossian saying, “While he is an established scholar and university professor, he actively rallies against cultural relativism and social justice…” The group claims the event will, “undermine the work… student leadership groups and administrative bodies do everyday to promote diversity, inclusion, and safety… ”

Miller responded, “This is exactly what America is against: Stalinist rhetoric endeavoring to silence the one kind of diversity on university campuses that matters most, viewpoint diversity. They don’t even want free thought. We invite the spotlight on our event. Truth presented peaceably has nothing to fear. Stifling free speech, on the other hand, is a threat to our whole civilization and is the reason why Christian and atheist will here unite.”

Utah State University is the first of four university stops for the pair. University officials were unavailable for comment. An interview with the event sponsors is available (https://env-ratiochristiorg-rcarchive.kinsta.cloud/blog/uniting-with-an-atheist-to-defend-the-university/).

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About Ratio Christi

Ratio Christi (https://env-ratiochristiorg-rcarchive.kinsta.cloud) is a Christian campus ministry that builds thoughtful Christians and sharing compelling reasons for following Christ. It has chapters on over 125 universities both in the US and abroad. The group builds bridges between student and faculty organizations to discuss questions of history, philosophy, and science. Find out more at https://env-ratiochristiorg-rcarchive.kinsta.cloud/join.

To support Ratio Christi’s mission to cultivate thoughtful Christians and share compelling reasons for following Christi, visit https://env-ratiochristiorg-rcarchive.kinsta.cloud/donate.