These, it seems, must be enforced if parents are to entrust their children to the care of the college. Calvin students are adept at repeating what they have been told or what they think others will want to hear. But personal, heartfelt passions and doubts are repressed because they shake foundations. The college instead should be a sturdy ship that can withstand storms of controversy. Although college life is extremely demanding, it chiefly requires mental and physical discipline.
Spiritual demands are negligible or non-existent.
In a Christian community such as Calvin, a student is rarely forced to defend his beliefs. We are all in this non-rocking boat together. Calvin has made progress over the past two decades in allowing students more freedom of thought, but is only a step on the road to a strong faith. Students are already allowed to question, but they should also be encouraged to challenge the assumptions on which this college is based and test the foundation of their faith. Calvin should be eager to offer students this opportunity, confident that our basic precepts will withstand the test.