Tigerland on Friday night is a place for romantic connection and experiment.
After knocking back a few confidence-builders, you decide to approach that person you’ve been eyeing since the semester began. Unfortunately, your initial advance had been interrupted by Hurricane Isaac and then again by the bomb threat. Tonight you “carpe diem” the situation.
But this bar scenario would not necessarily appeal to the Christian dater. So how do Christians date on campus? Do they find difficulty dating on a secular campus?
Minus the hookups and promiscuity, Christian dating is no different from any other.
The word Christian defines a broad range of beliefs and characteristics, from the fiery Free Speech Plaza attendees to your soft-spoken parish priest. For this case, the word refers to any who identifies as believing in Jesus Christ.
“Christians are scared to date,” said Jennifer Harrison, human resources junior. Though more calculating in her search, Harrison still holds traditional dating preferences regarding a companion — tall, attractive and humorous — but stressed that any potential suitor must love the Lord.
“Be patient and cling to God,” she advised to single people.
Based on opinions from Christians with whom I spoke, dating is no different from one group to another. There is no light from heaven and no divine sign that tells one when to pursue another. People feel a connection, act on that connection and begin a relationship.
But Christians do tend to do more consultation with others when deciding on potential partners. Consultation might include talking to pastors, close friends and family. Though generally more careful in dating situations, breakups are still common, as in other relationships.
“Our relationships may look a little different because our beliefs lead us to do so, but the same feelings that any other couple has, we have,” said general studies senior Jacob Beck, who is in a relationship. Beck added that the couple has seen ups and downs but has grown stronger in their faith because of them.
Chris Cook, college pastor at The Chapel, said Christians can do better when it comes to dating.
“There is a lot of sloppy dating because of insecurity and misunderstanding on what dating should be,” he said.
Many of these issues arise because people rush from one relationship to another.
Cook encouraged more group dating and more interaction with other Christians.
So then where can Christians associate on campus?
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The Refuge, Baptist Collegiate Ministry and Chi Alpha are a few well-known Christian organizations on campus. There are, of course, other alternative ways to find a desired Christian date.
Christiansmingle.com is a social dating site dedicated to partnering Christians. After submitting some brief personal information, the website automatically links you to other compatible people in the area.
Though I’m skeptical of online dating, the website is a frequently used option.
Patience and communication are important in order to maintain meaningful Christian relationships on campus.
As stated in I Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient, love is kind” — qualities not frequently found in the bars of Tigerland.
