A group of students at Trinity University in Texas wants the words “in the year of Our Lord” removed from their diplomas. “A diploma is a very personal item, and people want to proudly display it in their offices and homes,” Sidra Qureshi, president of Trinity Diversity Connection, told the Chronicle. “By having the phrase ‘In the Year of Our Lord,’ it is directly referencing Jesus Christ, and not everyone believes in Jesus Christ.”
Qureshi is a Muslim. The debate started last year when Isaac Medina, a Muslim convert from Guadalajara, Mexico, noticed the wording when he saw pre-made diploma frames in the Trinity bookstore. Muslims have been attacking Christianity since the inception of their religion. They’ve spotted a weakness in our system, the attempt to be diverse at any cost, even if it costs us the one thing that made this nation great—its Christian foundation. Muslims understand this; many Christians don’t. Muslims call for diversity as a wedge to get in the door, open it wide enough for others follow behind, then once in pool their collective energies and force Christians out.
There are many people who probably don’t think that including “in the year of our Lord” on a diploma is such a big deal. Muslims, atheists, and revolutionaries understand why it’s a big deal. There were two revolutions at the end of the eighteenth century and two different reactions to the Christian religion. France was caught up in revolutionary fever in 1791, not with a foreign power but with itself. The French revolutionaries were self-conscious about their efforts to turn France into a secular state, devoid of any remnant of religion. Throughout the nation a “campaign to dechristianize France spread like wildfire.”[1]
The dechristianization of the French Republic meant the crowning of a substitute civil religion. The leaders of the Paris Commune demanded that the former metropolitan church of Notre Dame be reconsecrated as a “Temple of Reason.” On November 10, 1793, a civic festival was held in the new temple, its façade bearing the words “To Philosophy.” In Paris, the goddess Reason “was personified by an actress, Demoiselle Candeille, carried shoulder‑high into the cathedral by men dressed in Roman costumes.”[2] The Commune ordered that all churches be closed and converted into poor houses and schools. “Church bells were melted down and used to cast cannons.”[3]
The French calendar was also changed to reflect the new anti-Christian spirit of the revolution. “The Convention voted on 5 October 1793 to abolish the Christian calendar and introduce a republican calendar.”[4] The founding of the Republic on September 22, 1792 was the beginning of the new era and a new “Year One.” Instead of the birth of Jesus Christ being the focal point of history, the founding day of the new French Republic would define how time would be kept. While the year still had twelve months, all were made thirty days long with the remaining days scattered throughout the year and celebrated as festival days. The seven-day week was replaced with a week of ten days with the result that Sunday as a day of rest and Christian worship was eliminated.[5]
The French Republic went beyond a new calendar by changing place names that had “reference to a Christian past.” In addition, “children were named after republican heroes such as Brutus and Cato, and observance of the new Revolutionary calendar, which abolished Sunday and Christian Feast days, was enforced.”[6] Blood flowed in the streets.
When compared to what the French did, the United States Constitution establishes continuity with the nation’s Christian past by linking it with the Christian calendar. The Constitution sets Sunday aside as a day of rest for the President (see Art 1, sec. 7). If the framers had wanted to strip every vestige of religion from the Constitution, why include a reference to an obvious religious observance? Sunday observance remained under constitutional protection at the federal and state levels for some time in the United States. Supreme Court Justice David Brewer observed notes that the recognition of Sunday as a day of worship and rest is “a day peculiar to [the Christian] faith, and known to no other,”[7] and this includes Islam.
The Constitution itself states that the drafting took place “in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven.” The Articles of Confederation included the phrase “it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures . . . to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union.” Like the Constitution the Articles closed with “Done at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania the ninth day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Eight, and in the Third Year of the independence of America.”
The several states continued to follow the Christian calendar where Jesus was placed at the center of history. When John Hancock was Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he issued “A Proclamation for a Day of Public Thanksgiving” in 1791:
In consideration of the many undeserved Blessings conferred upon us by GOD, the Father of all Mercies; it becomes us not only in our private and usual devotion, to express our obligations to Him, as well as our dependence upon Him; but also specially to set a part a Day to be employed for this great and important Purpose. . . . And above all, not only to continue to us the enjoyment of our civil Rights and Liberties; but the great and most important Blessing, the Gospel of Jesus Christ: And together with our cordial acknowledgments, I do earnestly recommend, that we may join the penitent confession of our Sins, and implore the further continuance of the Divine Protection, and Blessings of Heaven upon this People; especially that He would be graciously pleased to direct, and prosper the Administration of the Federal Government, and of this, and the other States in the Union—to afford Him further Smiles on our Agriculture and Fisheries, Commerce and Manufactures—To prosper our University and all Seminaries of Learning—To bless the virtuously struggling for the Rights of Men—so that universal Happiness may be Allies of the United States, and to afford his Almighty Aid to all People, who are established in the World; that all may bow to the Scepter of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the whole Earth be filled with his Glory.[8]
Above Hancock’s signature, the following is found: “Given at the Council-Chamber, in Boston, the fifth Day of October, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-One, and in the sixteenth Year of the Independence of the United States of America. “In the Year of Our Lord” continued to be used, even through Jefferson’s administration. In 1807, Jefferson singed a federal passport that allowed the ship Hershel to proceed on its Journey to London and dated the letter September 24, 1807 “in the year of our Lord Christ.”
The Muslim students at Trinity University, the general student population, the faculty, and the Board of Trustees need to educate themselves on the Christian history of America. Mr. Medina is living under the freedoms offered to him by the Constitution of the United States, a Constitution that includes the offending words “in the Year of our Lord.” Medina claims the reference to God on the diplomas “came as a big surprise” to him. Medina, who graduated in December, said he felt that he “was a victim of a bait and switch.” Did he feel the same way when he read the Constitution of the United States? It’s my guess that he and most of the students and faculty of Trinity University didn’t read it either. I suppose the next thing to go will be the name of the University. And after that, who knows. If history is any teacher, we know what will happen.
Endnotes:- Walter Grab, The French Revolution: The Beginning of Modern Democracy (London: Bracken Books, 1989), 165. [↩]
- Francis A. Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live? (1976) in The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview, 5 vols. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1984), 5:149. [↩]
- Grab, The French Revolution, 166. [↩]
- Grab, The French Revolution, 165. Also see “Marking Time: Different Ways to Count the Changing Seasons,” Did You Know? New Insight into the World that is Full of Astonishing Stories and Astounding Facts (London: Reader’s Digest, 1990), 267. [↩]
- Grab, The French Revolution, 165. [↩]
- Richard Cobb, gen. ed., Voices of the French Revolution (Topsfield, MA: Salem House Publishers, 1988), 202. Also see Simon Schama, Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1989), 771–80. [↩]
- David J. Brewer, The United States: A Christian Nation (Philadelphia, PA: 1905), 26. [↩]
- http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=18294 [↩]
Gary is a graduate of Western Michigan University (1973) and earned his M.Div. at Reformed Theological Seminary in 1979. Author of countless essays, news articles, and more than 27 book titles, he also hosts The Gary DeMar Show, and History Unwrapped—both broadcasted and podcasted. Gary has lived in the Atlanta area since 1979 with his wife, Carol. They have two married sons and are enjoying being grandparents to their grandsons, Calvin and Paul. Gary and Carol are members of Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA).
Everyone! Please understand that this is not an Isolated incident. There is a concerted, on-going, and well funded effort afoot to accomplish what Communism was unable to do – destroy American from the inside. Islam is the greatest threat to America and our way of life since the Bolshevik revolution. Islam is not so much a religion as it is a political ideology masquerading as a religion. Islam is the new Communism and must be met with the same strength and determination that eventually defeated Communism. Oppose Islam in all its efforts!
Out their own mouths the Muslims said when they started coming to the USA in greater numbers in the '60's it was with the intent to conform us to Islam. Little by little they have moved their foot in the door and caused changes that should never have been and today are even calling for Sharia law in America. Whoever heard of such a thing? We are a free country; Sharia law takes away freedom. The PC crowd is the driving force behind the ability to make such changes. As Christians we cannot allow ourselves to be ‘any’ part of the politically correct crowd. Jesus wasn't being politically correct when He went into the temple and over-turned the money changers tables who had made a mockery of the temple and whose actions had become an acceptable practice to the Jews of that day. Their actions were NOT acceptable to Christ who demanded they respect the temple of God. Jesus was open to sinners but He did not allow them to change Him. America can be open to all people worshipping they way they wish but we do have to ‘change’ or conform our convictions to accommodate them. Whether people like it or not America ‘was’ formed and based on CHRISTIAN principles. Thus we cannot 'allow' people – whose only desire it is to destroy us – remove us from our Christian heritage just because they don’t like it. To them I say, if you cannot accept our ways then go back to your country of origin and leave our Christian heritage alone.
Muslims are in a christian college to change it like so many other groups have tried to do and successfully done. We don't want to infringe upon their CONSTITUTIONAL rights so the college, work place or other institution just gives them what they want no matter what the majority wants. Look at ILLEGAL immigration. Over 70% of Americans don't want it but look at the present administration who do. So, these students should just pick up and go back home and take their textbooks with them so they will have something positive to read on the plane back. Hopefully, Trinity will have the guts to take a stand and do what's right for the present student body and that is leaving that line in the grad degree.
Another way for them to get the message through ALLAL is great What a joke A lot of people may not know that when they picked this name they took it from over three hundred so called gods they worshiped We and they know that Jesus wasnt picked from a list…..I blame the school for even allowing them to speak of changing anything as they knew this when they entered….Another way to push their so call devil worship on others…They go by the rules of the school and America or they leave….
Please be aware of what has already happened in library history books that are published that my students and others are using for their classes. I picked up on this last year while looking for extra reading for my history students. Of course, I wanted them to be aware of the change and teach them to think critically and be watchful. The change is from BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini – In The Year of Our Lord) … to …BCE (before common era) and CE (common era). I couldn't believe they (whoever "they" are) would or could do this. Again, creating a new reality… a new truth. I'm really about fed up with that. I had heard of it before I actually found it. I also checked the copywrite date on some which were as far back as 2005… so this isn't new. Does anyone know who "they" are???
I worked in a seminary that had Christian-Muslim Relations. Supposedly, they want to learn about Christians in order to dialogue with Christians that live around them when they get home. It seems that they take an awful lot of Islamic classes. They asked for those bathing areas, too. It was too expensive so the seminary took over a separate area of the main bathrooms and furnished them with slippers, etc. They also learn to be chaplains and go to our local jails. Some were very nice, but like most of you, I think that they are stealthily trying to take over America. Be our friend until they can over power us. It is okay for them to lie to infidels. We are infidels to them. That is what Muhammad did at Medina. Don’t ever forget that.
Another way for them to get the message through ALLAL is great What a joke A lot of people may not know that when they picked this name they took it from over three hundred so called gods they worshiped We and they know that Jesus wasnt picked from a list…..I blame the school for even allowing them to speak of changing anything as they knew this when they entered….Another way to push their so call devil worship on others…They go by the rules of the school and America or they leave….
Christian Americans do NOT understand one Important Muslim precept and this is it: "They wish to DESTROY all christian holy places and impose their Dominance over those holy places.. Here is their Slogan for this effort: "We will build our Mosques upon the Rubble of Your Destroyed Holy Places," – hence they are building their Mosque as close to the NY city destroyed Twin Towers of the World Trade Center which they consider an American Holy Place.
The "Dome of the Rock" in Jeruselem was a Christian Holy place which was destroyed by Muslims and replaced with a Muslim Mosque in compliance with their "Destroy and Replace" slogan…
People are so deceived and do not recognize the beauty of GOD'S GRACE which 'allows' all this improper behavior. Remember, man has free will…for now. That will change when Jesus returns and destroys all that is 'unlike' HIM. Islam will be among that destruction. So Saints, hold on for now; we are in the last days and Jesus is coming soon to restore all that has been lost to Him. Praise the name of JESUS!
I was reading and posting in ‘buzz’ in Yahoo today and became distressed to find out that yahoo no longer allows anyone to type the word “islam’. if you type it, and the yahoo proctor decides to let your post go through, the word ‘islam’ is replaced with the signs @#$% !!! More distressing, you cannot use the word “God”/ it , too, is replaced with @#$%!!! This is equating God and Islam and is denying freedom of speech. However, the subject being the southern poverty law center, the jewish people posting in there could say what they wanted..very offensive stuff in some cases, such as one poster continuously referring to Christianity as “Christaliban”. No one has been more generous to jews, judaism, and Israel than Christians, and this is how their ‘progressives’ thank us. This same jewish poster said, “All Christalibans will be hung from trees with piano wire”. This is distressing and scary, and then I was threatened that the so poverty law center and obama now had my information..tho i typed nothing offensive. I said that progressives of the so poverty law center are all for obama and hillary’s idea of violating our second ammendment by signing this UN small arms treaty but that they also use American tax money to make sure every person and the IDF are quite well-equipped with firearms and other weapons. I am sick of this. We have been generous to the point where between Islam and progressive Jews, Christians may be wiped out. Stunning.
Muslim are ignorant and backward people, that's why they behave the way they do, and if they don;t get their way, they go blow something or someone, just look at how they live in their countries, and how they have destroyed London Paris and Spain just to name a few of the cities that already have been overtaken by them, and that's what we could expect it will happen here if we don't stand up to this thugs.
Well, lets be frank about it Sidra Qureshi, I don't believe in Islam. The history that is written in the bible can be confirmed by extra biblical writings by other societies in the region and elsewhere i.e. Babylon, Persian, Egypt, Roman etc.
Islam on the other hand was conjured up by a man who lived 600-years after Jesus paid the sin debt for mankind. Islam has no history beyond 600AD so you Sidra Qureshi have been following false teachings and this is something that you should not believe in. You can't say Islam is the one true religion when there is no history of it whatsoever.
Muslim's shouldn't come over here and go to our Christian school's if they don't believe in our Lord God and Jesus Christ! They can read can't they? As the saying goes "If you don't like it, then don't go there." I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THESE MUSLIM'S COMING OVER TO MY COUNTRY AND TRYING TO CHANGE IT TO THEIR WAYS AND "SO CALLED" RELIGION!!!!!!!!!!! They are trying to sneak and intrude their Islamic ways and religion in and take over America to wipe out our Christian religion and this offends me to no end and I am just furious about it! Go back where you came from and leave Christian's, our country, and Constitution alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why Christian Colleges accept muslins? I do not believe that a muslin college will accept Christians or Jews. And the right attitude is: you knew the rules before, now you are not allowed to change them, take it or leave it. I think we are confusing freedom and equality with placing ourselves as a doormats.
WTF!! If they don't like it, they can get the hell out! This is our country, and we can believe in our Lord Jesus as we wish! LEAVE US ALONE!!
They knew it was a Christian college when they chose to study there- i say the Words "In the Year of Our Lord" stays.
This is America, take it or leave it !
The words stay..