When religious offerings are forced on capable adults, it removes religious freedom.

Unfortunately, we see that happening at many Christian colleges nationwide that hold chapel services run by faculty and students for their student body. These services are a great tool for the university and the student body.

They help ministry students gain experience in their field of study and offer opportunities for guests to speak at the school. These services also create an easy way for students to enter a church-like community and are convenient places for spiritual growth and learning.

These chapel services are good temporary substitutes for students struggling to find a church. However, these chapel services are often accompanied by mandatory attendance.

Some institutions require a specific number of attendances per semester. Others hold mandatory chapel, which all students are expected to attend at least once a week.

Schools usually keep track by having students swipe their IDs or scan a code with their phones. Students are often not allowed to enter late or exit the center until the service has ended.

I once had to run out of a chapel service to use the bathroom because I had come straight from class. I could only rush and hope I would be allowed back inside. A faculty member ended up waiting by the door to ensure only I could get back in rather than students arriving late.

Students also experience penalties for missing attendance. Some schools require students to participate in make-up courses or community service. Others are known to fine students or hold their diplomas until some compensation has been served.

While the strong Christian community these chapel services strive to create is a worthy endeavor, mandatory attendance is often more disruptive to a cohesive community and individual student growth. Many students struggle with the expectation of mandatory chapel attendance, often considering it just another responsibility to add to their already heavy plates.

This becomes particularly difficult near the end of each semester when students struggle to complete final projects and study for their exams. The thought of needing to attend chapel on top of meeting course requirements can feel like another degree requirement instead.

This is fundamentally the opposite of what pursuing a Christian life is supposed to be. Instead, it resembles a chore or a box on a to-do list.

Students are already overwhelmed with their school and class commitments. Having chapel services to attend can build up animosity against the school for distracting them from the work they need to do.

This can also lead to a warped opinion of the church and their personal faith. Even some students who begin the year enjoying chapel services can end their semester dreading the time commitment chapel entails.

Using the required chapel cannot create the community or the spiritual growth many schools believe it will. Forcing these adult students to attend will only bring them together in their frustration.

Is it right for these organizations to require adults, despite their position as students, to attend these religious events? How is a Christian community created on the college campus without required chapel attendance?

Many students would still attend chapel services if they were not required and the atmosphere would be a more positive experience overall. Because the only students who would attend would be those who wanted to be there.

Other students could still attend chapel when they have the capacity to devote their time and attention to such an event. This could result in services with a more positive response and audience.

Without mandatory chapel services, students would begin to see service attendance as less of an obligation. On the contrary, it would foster spiritual growth and maturity.

Schools can then build adults who are responsible for their own beliefs.