Religious Protesting on OU’s Campus Threatens to Turn Students Away from Religious Groups 

Recent religious protesting on campus hurts the university's many religious groups by tarnishing their reputation and teachings. Protestor Daniel John Lee, a Christian Fundamentalist, came to campus at the end of March to preach, “Stop sinning, believe the gospel,” while verbally harassing onlookers and passersby. He came to campus for several days in a row, holding a large sign and shouting through a megaphone. Additionally, he had a GoPro attached to his chest to film the crowd and his interactions with students. Other Christians on campus say he took teachings out of context to gain media attention. His protests caused said Christians to take to social media and other platforms to defend their religion’s values and pedagogy. 

“It hurt me to see someone actively being the reason why people turn away from that goodness and being loved unconditionally.” Brianna Hernandez, OU sophomore. 

The University of Oklahoma is in the bible belt. According to the Pew Religious Landscape Study, Oklahoma has a majority of 79% Christians. Most students identify as Christian but are beginning to follow the national trend of leaving their religion. As of 2020, the number of people identifying as Christian has dropped from 90% in 1970 to 64%. The Pew Research Center states that many sites leave their religion due to disenchantment with organized religious hypocrisy, misalignment with beliefs, and misinterpretations of Christian principles. 

Demonstrators like Daniel John Lee traveled nationwide protesting and preaching at universities. The messages are often the same: condemning students and calling their lifestyles sinful. Protestors gain media attention for their polarizing views and techniques. They often preach against LGBTQ+ groups, others preach against women’s rights, and others condemn different religions. Often, they claim to speak the valid values and beliefs of Christianity, but, in reality, these are why young students choose to turn away from the faith. 

“Those types of performances only confirm for so many of our students why they do not belong in certain religious spaces and why spirituality for them is impossible.” Assistant Professor Dr. James Howard Hill Jr. of the OU Department of Religious Studies. 

University of Oklahoma Sophomore Brianna “Bri” Hernandez originally attended this university for its active religious groups. Organizations such as Fill the Stadium and Crossover allowed her to express her faith on campus freely. OU’s free speech policies enable many students to openly practice their faith on campus with organizations as diverse as the University Buddhist Organization and the Muslim Student Association. 

Hernandez was disturbed by the words and actions of Daniel John Lee. The words he preached and his perspective diminished, in her eyes, the Christian faith she loves and subscribes to. 

“This man was going out and being all the reasons why people hate Christians; he was doing all these things, preaching condemnation, making people afraid, like fearful.” Brianna Hernandez. 

Hernandez speaks about the valid message of her faith as one about love and personal connection to a higher power. She further states Christianity does not discriminate against any groups and only seeks to share the love Christians feel through their worship practices. For a religion that centers on community and personal relationships, an active antagonizer challenging the standard view of their faith is devastating. 

The Pew Research Center predicts that by 2070, only 35% of the U.S. population will identify as Christian. With a steady decline in individuals participating in organized religion, Christian groups must educate effectively and create consensus if they expect to continue. 

According to Assistant Professor Dr. James Howard Hill Jr. of the OU Department of Religious Studies, protests like those mentioned above are anti-intellectual performances that cannot be scrutinized. 

“The University of Oklahoma, as the flagship university within this beautiful state, has a responsibility, has a mandate to confront hate and anti-intellectualism at every turn.” Dr. James Howard Hill Jr. 

Dr. Alan Levenson, director of the Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies at OU, has a similar opinion on the role of educators and faculty for religious education on campus. 

“Any of us who have some say in who gets invited to campus, I think we have a responsibility to bring people to campus who are going to educate because if we're not educating, then I don’t think we have any function whatsoever as a University.” Dr. Alan Levenson, director of the Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies at OU. 

OU Faculty and Staff wish to cater more toward educating students on religion in a productive way. The Religious Studies (RELS) program at OU continues to hold events inviting students to participate in different religious practices. RELS also hosts lectures that center around various religions and religious events. Their goal is to further the religious education of students to ensure more academic and productive discussion.