Difficult Conversations

Last semester I took this class with House of Hope about how to have difficult conversations and since then I have found that God continues to bring new situations into my life that calls for a difficult conversation to be had.

In my last post I talked about a professor's remarks about my faith and in this upcoming week I will be meeting with the provost of my University to talk about them. I do so not out of malicious intent or revenge, but because I feel that it is every student's right to be able to sit in a classroom without being insulted because of their religious beliefs.

I will also be talking with another member of the university community about an employer and how many who recently rent on a service trip to New Orleans (which I will write about soon) feel that she is unable to be in charge of such trips anymore. Again, no evil intentions, but rather as a way to not only protect her but to help other students who go on future service trips, to feel safe while doing so.

So as I continue to see God growing me in my ability to confront difficult situations head on, all I can say is that I praise Him for doing so. He continues to help me grow more in love with Him, more in my faith, and more confident as a child of God.

I know that through it all, He will give me the right words to say as I try to convey the things that need to be conveyed to the community around me.

Stereotypes

Today was the last day of lecture for my class. Tomorrow we just hand in our tests and people will be presenting. I however, will be handing things in and heading on my way.
I originally planned on sitting through the first half of class before leaving to get ready to go to New Orleans for a service trip but after class today I am unsure how I can sit through that professor's class.

I understand that people hear many stereotypes about Evangelical Christians. I understand that many Evangelicals fall into some of those stereotypes in one way or another. What I don't understand is how a professor can blatantly state one of those in class with no real lesson behind it.
I knew after the first couple days of class that my professor was a hard-core Catholic who is strong in his faith and can't be swayed. But to judge another's faith based off of things you've "heard" and not experienced is completely off base if you are to be a teacher in a higher institution. To say in front of an entire class that I am an Evangelical and therefore must think I'm better than everyone is completely uncalled for.
I'm used to hearing the comments and judgments. I'm used to people relying on stereotypes when they don't understand something about my faith, but a professor who prides himself in Theology should double check before he makes a blatant statement about a student without having proof to back it up.

Never once have I said I am better than anyone and I never will. Granted, this man is allowed to hold whatever beliefs he wants, but in a class where he has been teaching the use of reason when making an argument, it would be nice for him to back up his statement with proof that I have ever once said that I am better than any Catholic because of my faith!

This is one of those times where I really wish people would base their conclusions about me off of what they have seen since knowing me. Base it off of my actions and words, not simply because of my faith and title as an Evangelical.