Larycia Hawkins, a professor at Wheaton College, told students that Muslims and Christians worship the same god. It seems fairly obvious that they do, but not to Wheaton's administration. They have placed Hawkins on "administrative leave."
Wheaton is an unapologetically Christian, four-year college, but that's no excuse for the school to suspend a teacher who looks for similarities between religions. Hawkins is attempting to build bridges that create mutual understanding. Such bridges can pave the way to peace. Please join with me in asking for the full faculty reinstatement of Professor Hawkins.
Dear Wheaton College:
We the undersigned are saddened to hear that you have suspended Professor Hawkins. It appears that her crime is to point out, rather sensibly, that Christians and Muslims worship the same god. By the way, they do. Your gesture seems surprisingly intolerant, especially for a school that has a rich history of defending human rights. Your founder, Jonathan Blanchard, was a vocal anti-slavery activist who boarded African American college students in his home. Please do the right thing and reinstate Professor Hawkins to the faculty at your earliest opportunity.
