Multiculture is no culture. . .

In the grand egalitarian scheme of things, multiculturalism honors every deity held in esteem by every people -- the more the merrier!  Even in some Christian schools (even some Lutheran ones!), the presence of a diverse student body and the attention to various calendars creates a no-win situation.  On the one hand, if you are a Christian (Lutheran) school, should you not honor the one and only culture of Scripture and the God who is the author and actor in its story?  Of course, you risk offending those who do not share in that Christian culture of identity, belief, and practice.  Or do you suggest that every religion is equal and every god has a place at the table and presume that not only the Christians but every other religious adherent is likewise watered down and religious lite?  Unless it is merely the honoring of a legacy or history, what god wants to be merely one of many gods and what god wants to share the glory with every other deity that passes for a religion?

It would seem to me that the best choice is not to honor the student but to honor the character and identity of the institution.  If it is a religious school, honor the religion that claims it and orders its life.  Those on campus who are not of the religion of the school are not there to take down that religion.  I suspect that all of them are there because somehow they got the money and grades to get in and they want to leave with an impressive piece of paper on their wall (sometimes useful for gainful employment and sometimes not).  I would further suspect that these diverse religious populations tend to be significantly smaller than the group that owns the property and runs the institution and perhaps the greatest percentage of the study body is not all that into any religion.  What good does it do to play with the faiths of others as if you were ordering food at an ethnic restaurant?  For everyone who is acting the part of being religious, there are those who truly believe their faith.  Does it make anybody happy to turn any religion into a watered down imitation or parody of itself?  

If the students on campus are so moved and want to practice their faith, hey, its a free country.  But to try and sponsor such events as if multiculturalism were a really good thing ends up only diminishing every faith and makes all of them seem rather petty and insignificant.  While his might not be recognized by a culture determined to make gender a decision, the people running these institutions should know the difference.  In the end, multiculturalism treats every religion and ethnicity as if it were the soup du jour or the daily special at the diner.  Who wants their faith and culture treated in this way?  Who would allow outsiders to parody and stereotype their faith and call it virtue?  As a Christian I am offended and I would expect that anyone serious about their religion would be likewise offended.

It sounds so good and noble and all but in the end it makes a joke out of that which ought to be the most serious thing in our lives -- this we believe, teach, and confess.  While this is most certainly true of Christianity (and Lutheranism), it should be no less true of other faiths.