This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 39, number 02 (2016).
SYNOPSIS
Rape and sexual violence on college campuses in the United States is one of the dominant issues being fought over in the culture today. It can be difficult to sort through the competing narratives and vitriol surrounding the issue to find a Christian response. The evil of rape is undeniable, and the devastation sexual violence wreaks on the lives of the victims, their loved ones, and their communities demands both a strong commitment to seek justice and compassionate effort to find restoration for victims. At the same time, our Christian commitment to truth compels us to be careful when attempting to determine the extent of the problem. The massive disparity in the number of cases of sexual violence from various resources requires careful consideration. Public policy measures instituted to address sexual violence on campuses must recognize the impact investigations have on all parties involved, both complainant and accused, and demonstrate restraint in creating environments that weight the process in favor of one side over another. Respectful and considerate pursuit of the truth ought to be the aim of the process. Though we should not sow fear and discord unnecessarily, we can offer tools to equip students to minimize their chances of being victimized. When students become victims of sexual violence, the community needs encourage the pursuit of justice through the criminal justice system while attending to the spiritual and emotional pain the process unavoidably introduces into the life of a person who has already endured the evil of physical violation. [READ THE ARTICLE HERE]
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