#2: Thriving as a Christian at a Secular University – Dr. Christy Moran Craft

Christian students at public universities face unique challenges, as well as unique opportunities. Whether a student thrives in this environment depends on many factors, including how they engage this “marketplace of ideas.” Knowing how best to respond when one’s worldview is challenged is an important skill to develop. Dr. Craft is most interested in is preparing students to engage in this “marketplace of ideas”–both inside and outside the classroom–on issues such as social justice, diversity and inclusion training, and LGBTQ+ questions.

Dr. Christy Moran Craft is a professor and interim department chair in the College of Education at Kansas State University. For almost twenty years, she has studied issues related to religion and spirituality in higher education, paying particular attention to Christianity in public colleges and universities. She also has expertise with regard to legal issues related to religious expression in public higher education. In addition to teaching and to conducting research, Dr. Craft has served on various committees on campus including serving as Chair of the President’s Committee on Religious, Spiritual, and Nonreligious Diversity. 

She fell in love with higher education as a result of her experiences as a student leader in a campus organization and as a resident assistant at Bradley University. Her teaching brings practice-based knowledge of residence life, judicial affairs, student organizations, leadership development, Greek life, and health awareness programming into the classroom.

In this podcast we discuss…

• The legality of students discussing Christian conviction in public universities, supported by Supreme Court decisions [:54]
• How students can prepare to have a voice in the marketplace of ideas [3:22]
• The value of understanding other perspectives, rather than being fearful [6:25]
• Strategies to help Christian students engage in the marketplace of ideas [9:30]
• The relationship between being a good student and having an influence for Christ [11:10]
• When it is and is not OK to bring Christian convictions into classroom discussions [13:24]
• What the “separation of Church and State” means for Christian students sharing their perspectives [14:16]
• Why Christians should not be quick to assume they are being persecuted at a secular university [18:16]
• Challenges Christian students will face outside the classroom from administrative staff [23:18]
• How best to respond to religious diversity [24:19]
•  Responding to charges of “Christian privilege” [28:00]
• Fruitfully engaging in conversations  about race, gender, and sexual orientation [31:38]
• How non-Christian professors tend to respond to Christian students [36:22]
• How best to deal with student affairs staff who are antagonistic [40:24]
• How to find a good campus ministry [43:24]
• How to find Christian professors [45:40]
• How to find a good church [47:00]
• Dealing with antagonistic professors [48:09]
• Where to go to get help when facing challenging situations [48:58]
• How to balance involvement in a Christian group and ministry with studies [52:28]
• Thoughts about participation in “interfaith” conversations and events [52:50]
• Applying Scripture to one’s life as a student [58:07]

Resources Mentioned:  

• Christian campus ministries –  https://collegefaith.net/resources/
• J.P. Moreland’s website – http://www.jpmoreland.com/
• Ravi Zacharias resources – https://www.rzim.org/
• Tim Keller’s website – https://timothykeller.com/