20 Dogmas That Keep College Students From Learnin

Twenty Non-Questions on Campus

Merriam-Webster defines dogma as “a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted by the members of a group without being questioned or doubted.” On too many college campuses, certain beliefs are promoted just that dogmatically. Students are not allowed to challenge them. I’ve blogged on this previously, listing twenty dogmatic beliefs, mostly progressive, that dominate our college campuses. Those beliefs are:

• There is a campus rape culture that encourages the sexual assault of women.
• A woman accusing a man of rape has vastly more credibility than a man who claims his innocence.
• The earth is getting dramatically warmer due to human activity, and altering that activity can stop or slow this trend.
• Israeli settlers and the Israeli government are as bad as or worse than Palestinian terrorists.

You might agree with some of these beliefs; you might reject them all; you might accept them all. One way or another, they’re all open to debate — except on campus. You can’t question these beliefs there. You can’t debate them. You’re not allowed to.

• Fundamentalist Christians are morally the same as Muslim terrorists.
• Any military action in the Middle East creates more problems than it solves.
• Criticizing Islam as a religion of terrorism is an example of Islamophobia.
• Religious freedom is less important than acceptance of sexual minorities.
• Society would generally be better off if traditional religion disappeared.
• Marriage between those of the same sex should be seen as the same as marriage between those of different sexes.
• Trans women (men who identify as women)  should be allowed to use the same facilities as biological women.
• The physical differences between men and women play no role in economic disparities between them.
• A woman has a right to an abortion for whatever reason she chooses.
• Black men are targeted by the police.
• Anti-Hispanic racism is an important part of what motivates those who oppose immigration reform.
• President Obama has been criticized more than previous presidents because of his race.
• Raising taxes on the wealthy will improve our economy.
• Political conservatives are either greedy manipulators exploiting the marginalized, or sincere dupes voting against their own economic interests.
• There is little if any correlation between hard work and economic success.
• The United States is more damaging to the world than other western industrialized nations.

The Queen and I are so proud of the fact that we, as grandparents, and with the blessing of our children will be able to send our grandchildren to Ave Maria College in Florida. Hillsdale College in Michigan wouldn't be a bad choice, either.