Despite COVID-19, Taking Sides Chapel returns with new debate topics and social distance guidelines

Taking sides chapel involves students debating topics every Friday at 11 a.m. in Baugh Auditorium.

August 24, 2020

Taking Sides Chapel, one of Oklahoma Christian University’s most popular chapels, resumes on Aug. 28. The popularity of Taking Sides Chapel comes from allowing two different opinions on every topic discussed each Friday. For the chapel to continue, mask-wearing and social distancing per COVID-19 guidelines are in place for Baugh Auditorium. The chapel is under the direction of Professor of Communication Brian Simmons. He has two students, Rae Creech and Brighton Frost, assisting him with moderating the topics each week.

Students pick a hot topic for each week. The subjects selected are significant current events in the world. Using an objective eye is the key to choosing each Taking Sides Chapel discussion. An unbiased approach for the conversation allows the audience to hear thoughts from both sides, according to Simmons.

"How do we choose the topics for Taking Sides Chapel? Each Monday at 5 p.m., the Taking Sides Chapel crew of 15 or so students meets in a big circle to choose a topic," he said. "Then we spend the rest of the hour identifying arguments on both sides of the topic. We write the arguments on the whiteboard in a classroom and have a fun, friendly, wild, engaging, respectful and talking-over-each-other discussion of the arguments."

Presenting both sides is an informative way to learn different viewpoints and learn tolerance.

“I like that Taking Sides Chapel raises some topics that are not often talked about publicly, in a well-reasoned, civil manner." Simmons said. "I think that is especially vital in a university setting."

Below is a list of the topics every week. 

  • Aug 28 - Should a Christian attend a protest knowing that violence is likely to occur? 

  • Sep 4 - Is it acceptable for Christians to use profanity? 

  • Sep 11 - Are short-term missions more harmful or helpful? 

  • Sep 18 - Are gendered toys (i.e. Barbies for girls, legos for boys) a bad thing?

  • Sep 25 - Are psychiatrists too quick to prescribe medication to mentally ill patients?

  • Oct 2 - Is it okay for Christian couples to live together before they are married? 

  •  Oct 9 - Does my vote matter? 

  •  Oct 16 - Vote for Trump or Biden? 

  •  Oct 23 -Is it OK for a Christian lawyer to defend someone whom they know is guilty of crime? 

  • Oct 30 - Do ghosts exist and interact with this world? 

  •  Nov 6 - Is it okay for parents to allow their underage children to drink alcoholic beverages with supervision? 

 To keep up with Taking Sides Chapel, follow the group’s Twitter handle at @TSC-OK