Persecution
"Georgia Grad Student Sues University Over Gay Sensitivity Training", the headline read. "They told me to change my beliefs or be kicked out," she said. This is, of course, a story about persecution. We hear about it all the time; in the story about the Christian bus driver who is fired for refusing to drive a woman to an abortion clinic, or the pharmacist who loses her job for refusing to fill a valid prescription for birth control.
This is an unfortunately common response among minorities and majorities-who-pretend-to-be-minorities, like Christians and white people. You don't like your black co-worker? You must be racist. Well, I have news for you; it might be because he's a dick.
But religious people often take it further, finding systemic abuses in events that ultimately have nothing to do with religion. This tendency is not exclusive to Christians; for example, the French parliament recently moved to ban the burqa in public places. The response was immediate and predictable; "France is persecuting Muslims!" But are they? What the French are really saying is,"For security reasons, we need to be able to see your face, and your religion does not exempt you from this requirement." To be honest, they're saying other things as well, but the point is the same: when Christians say they're being persecuted, what they usually mean is they're not receiving special treatment.
The grad student in question, Jennifer Keeton, is applying for a degree in counseling. If she was becoming an accountant, it wouldn't matter; however, she has chosen a career where a certain degree of sensitivity and objectivity is required. Miss Keeton has indicated that she is unable or unwilling to put her client's needs first and prevent her personal beliefs from interfering with her professional obligations. The university is not only within their rights, but they have an obligation to withhold their endorsement if they feel she will be unable to perform her job duties effectively or will be unable to adhere to her profession's code of ethics. She is not being asked to "change her beliefs"; she is being asked to behave professionally.
A person's choice of religion does not exempt him or her from the law or from professional ethics and responsibilities. And expecting him or her to abide by the same rules and adhere to the same standards as everyone else is not persecution. For that matter, neither is calling "bullshit" in a blog post. Do what you want in your private life, but, in your public life, you don't get to play with your own rulebook.
And to all my Christian friends who feel picked on and unliked, please keep in mind that the neverending persecution complex may be a large reason why. Or maybe you're just a dick.