When Ideology Becomes Idolatry: A Theological Response to Pro-Hamas Sentiment on College Campuses
In recent months, a concerning trend has emerged across American and even British college campuses: the normalization, or in some cases, the glorification, of Hamas and its tactics under the guise of pro-Palestinian activism. While freedom of expression is a cornerstone of the college environment, recent demonstrations have raised profound moral, political, and spiritual concerns.
A Snapshot of Recent Events
On May 8, 2025, Columbia University found itself at the center of a big controversy. A group of masked protesters burst into Butler Library during finals week, yelling slogans that many saw as not just anti-Israel but also supportive of Hamas, which is known as a terrorist group. More than 80 people were arrested, and Columbia’s acting president publicly criticized the incident, calling it a disruption to academic life and a threat to the safety of Jewish students on campus.
Student groups from universities like University College London and Edinburgh are now getting behind a legal push to take Hamas off the UK’s list of banned terrorist groups. They argue that this label messes with free speech. But a lot of people feel that these movements are overlooking the harsh and violent reality of what Hamas does, including their cruel attacks on innocent people.
A Theological Reflection: Idolatry of Ideology
What does Scripture say about this moment?
At its heart, the celebration of a group like Hamas reveals something deeper than misguided politics—it is the idolatry of ideology. Isaiah 5:20 warns, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
When students chant for Hamas, whether knowingly or not, they are aligning with a worldview that corrupts God’s standard of justice and righteousness.
Romans 1:25 also speaks prophetically into this situation: “For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Apostle Paul is writing this letter urgently, not to worship the things of this world but the creator, who is God the Father.
In today's culture, this exchange is often seen in the world of political ideologies or cultural trends to divine status. When ideology becomes more sacred than truth, the result is moral confusion—where violence is praised, victims are blamed, and evil is rebranded as virtue.
This isn’t to say that Christians must support every action taken by the modern state of Israel. But to align oneself—whether out of ignorance, rebellion, or blind activism—with a group that takes action in terror and calls for genocide (as explicitly stated in Hamas’s founding charter) is a theological crisis. It’s not merely a policy debate; it’s a rejection of God’s heart for justice, life, and peace.
The Church’s Role: Compassion and Clarity
The Church has a responsibility in this moment. First, we must pray for discernment among students, especially Christian students who find themselves caught in ideological crossfire. We must also speak with clarity about the value of every human life—Palestinian and Israeli alike—while refusing to excuse or sanctify evil.
Ephesians 5:11 urges us, “Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;” That doesn’t mean we demonize those we disagree with, but it does mean we call sin what it is and point people to a better hope than what Hamas or any earthly regime can offer.
Conclusion: Light in the Darkness
Colleges should be places of open dialogue, critical thought, and moral reflection. But when academic freedom is weaponized to endorse hate, the result is not progress—it’s regression into darkness. As followers of Christ, we are called to be salt and light, to offer an alternative to the hatred of the world: the love, truth, and justice of the Kingdom of God.
We must not stay silent. And we must not grow numb.