What is the moral code of conduct often seen within today’s Christian college? What purpose does this code serve and how important is it, really? Let’s take a closer look at the part played by such conduct codes in these schools.
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A Larger Concept
At work behind the roots of such conduct code is the larger and age-long use of such unifying codes. Long ago, groups of affiliated people realized that in order to best form a unified group or force, a code dictating unified, acceptable conduct would need to be set in place. As a result, we’ve seen such codes in all sorts of history’s environs, from private companies to government bodies and even criminal enterprises, believe it or not. Some examples of conduct guidance in history are as follows:
- The Ten Commandments
- The Ten Indian Commandments
- The Warrior Code
- Five Pillars of Islam
- Coca Cola Conduct Code
- Journalist’s Creed
- Patimokkha
- Uniform Code of Military Justice
Application at Christian School
As time has shown us, no matter the group, their goals, or location, such conduct code provides a set standard and unification. Naturally, such doctrine is quite well suited to the collegiate realm, especially the collegiate entity that also harbors some religious affiliation. The specific purposes most often cited for such code in these academies are as follows.
Behavior Unification: The most common reason for conduct codes anywhere is arguably that of behavior unification. This is especially true when it comes to religion-based institutions. By unifying behavior, everyone knows what to expect as safety and predictability prevail. There are few surprise, and ideally, no reasons for upheaval. If a violation does occur though, doctrine is already set to deal with it per pre-set standards. General camaraderie, the “spirit of friendly good-fellowship” prevails.
Reputation Maintenance: Reputation is extremely important to any such institution. Reputation affects student attitudes, attendance and enrollment, respectability of the earned degree, government grants and dealings, and many other areas of importance. Such conduct codes safeguard a school’s reputation in numerous ways.
Limited Injury, Difficulty: Along with the predictability and pattern in behavior established by these codes, there comes another benefit. Injury, duress, and all other forms of chaos are also inherently thwarted. The more adherence to the rules, the more safe the environment is. Pattern and predictability are king here.
Religious Ethics Representation: All that claim allegiance or membership to a religion are assumed to thus accept its ways and live by its precepts on a daily basis. Naturally, a college that runs on the premises of one religion is only going to want to affiliate with other, like-minded believers or practitioners of that same belief system. A Christianity-based institution therefore would best be represented by a student body that is composed of Christians. This is another part of greater, overall unification efforts.
Conclusion
Unity is the name of the game here. Behaviors, school representation, religious representation, and safety all make for some powerful reasons for the establishment of such overseeing, uniting codes. As a matter of generality, these four purposes are the chief ones behind the moral code of conduct found at most Christian college institutions today.
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