Surviving Religion 101

Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College

Michael J. Kruger

WHEATON, ILLINOIS

Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College

Copyright © 2021 by Michael J. Kruger

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover image and design: Micah Lanier

First printing 2021

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-7207-4

ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-7210-4

PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-7208-1

Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-7209-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Kruger, Michael J., author. Title: Surviving religion 101 : letters to a Christian student on keeping the faith in college / Michael J. Kruger.

Description: Wheaton, Illinois : Crossway, [2021] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020022288 (print) | LCCN 2020022289 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433572074 (trade paperback) |

ISBN 9781433572098 (mobi) | ISBN 9781433572081 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433572104 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Christian college students—Religious life.

Classification: LCC BV4531.3 .K78 2021 (print) | LCC BV4531.3 (ebook) | DDC 248.8/34—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020022288

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020022289

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

To Emma, John, and Kate,

May this book help you keep your lights shining brightly,

not only in college but for your entire life.

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good

works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

MATTHEW 5:16

Contents

Preface

Introduction

1 I’m Worried about Being a Christian at a Secular University—How Will I Survive?

2 My Professors Are Really Smart—Isn’t It More Likely That They’re Right and I’m Wrong?

3 There Are a Lot of Different Views Here—How Can We Say That Christianity Is the Only Right Religion?

4 My Christian Morals Are Viewed as Hateful and Intolerant—Shouldn’t I Be More ...