Christian school in Denver to scrap Crusaders name because of love and empathy for neighbors

The Denver Christian School will no longer be known as the Crusaders by the latter part of this year, but some people are against changing the name of the school mascot.

"This has nothing to do with political correctness," said school CEO Todd Lanting in an interview with 9News. "It's got everything to do with love and empathy for our neighbors."

The Crusades were military campaigns during the Medieval period starting in the late 11th century, wherein the pope called people to arms to fight against non-Christians, particularly Muslims who inhabited the Holy Land. 

The school has decided that in their 100th year -- and after 65 years of using the name -- they would change it. The names reportedly given by parents, students, and alumni in November has been narrowed down to two choices: Thunder and Trailblazers.

"In our mission, in light of the command to love our neighbors as ourselves, the crusader was an inconsistent, inappropriate symbol for that mission," Lanting said.

There are those who are opposed to the name change, however, saying that the move is more about political correctness, while others say that it's "giving in to Muslims." There are also those who want to keep the name because it is part of their identity.  A Facebook group called "Crusaders Forever -- HELP!" was created to express their sentiments.  

Nonetheless, there are also those who support it. An alumnus named David Youngsma said that when he first heard the news, he was angry. However, he came to think about it and said that the first generation of graduates were not Crusaders, and that the school is not defined by a mascot.

"Whether we are the Trail Blazers or The Thunder makes no difference," he said. "We are still and continue to be The GREAT DC!!