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Prof to Student: Keep the Faith, Lose the Grade(More anti-religion)
worldnetdaily.com ^ | April 11, 2008 | staff

Posted on 04/13/2008 6:13:13 AM PDT by kellynla

A community college in New York has been presented with a demand letter from the American Center for Law and Justice to halt a professor's classroom practices that allegedly have damaged at least one student – so far.

The letter from the ACLJ targets Suffolk County Community College and will be the prelude to a federal lawsuit if the issue isn't resolved, the organization said.

At issue is a professor's demand that students "change their own personal viewpoints or state that they are unsure of whether their own personal beliefs are correct" on religious issues, according to the letter.

That is an expression of hostility to religion, the letter explains.

The ACLJ said it is representing Gina DeLuca, a student who has been punished with lower grades and has been labeled "closed-minded" by a professor, who remained unidentified in the letter, because he demands that students acknowledge the possibility that God does not exist in order to participate in his philosophy class, which is required for graduation.

"The ACLJ has sent a letter demanding that the school end its discriminatory actions against DeLuca or face a federal lawsuit," the organization's announcement said.

(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: ac; faith; persecution; professors; religion; students
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To: Reaganesque
The only way this is going to change is if people stand up for their rights.
Step one.
Take the bad grade, put the teacher and school on notice you are going to total war with them over this discriminatory action, get media coverage and call the alliance defense fund or one of the other civil liberties firms that are actually fair minded and support Christian beliefs. Do this all as Christ would have you do it. Firmly, honestly and without hate. Record all communications if at all possible.
Step Two.
Call the ACLU and ask for their help. Get media coverage that you did so. Get as much media coverage of the truth of their "support". Do this all as Christ would have you do it. Firmly, honestly and without hate. Record all communications if at all possible.
Step three.
Begin to attend school board meetings if its a public school. Speak your mind. Get as much media coverage as possible. Do this all as Christ would have you do it. Firmly, honestly and without hate. Record all communications if at all possible.
Step Four
Let them know you love them and would like to minister to them about the good news.

At ALL times use logic, kindness and be relentless in letting them know that you wont back down. and then, DONT BACK DOWN. EVER.

Thney will either have hardened hearts and not notice you are fighting them in a different way than they are used to, or they will notice you are being a light on the hill ( which is really the point)

The issue isnt that we are routed. Its that we give these jokers a pass every single time.
Stand your ground and rebuild you piece of the wall . This is highlighted in the bible in Nehemiah. Our walls have been breached, and its time to get them rebuilt.
The times are changing, and much is at stake, but much can be gained by just giving no one a pass on this type of behavior. Complaining doesnt fix it.
Venting doesnt fix it.
Action fixes it. Imagine if every single time this happened, someone did the above. One person taking a stand isnt going to change things, and neither will electing someone in particular. That can help, but doesnt fix it. But thousands upon thousands of good people doing the right thing will fix this.
God created us and told us how to act. Jesus modeled it for us and Gods word documented ALL of it. So whats the hold up?

21 posted on 04/13/2008 9:40:51 AM PDT by humantech ("No one wants to live to see such evil times. Its what you do with the time you are given")
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To: kellynla
Just more evidence for my firm belief that America is rapidly becoming just another post-Christian era nation and is headed for the same situation that exists in today's western European nations where Christianity has little or no influence on society.

Government schools of today are not the same schools they were in my pre-boomer generation in which the Christian bible was accepted as the authoritative gold standard on matters of morality and decency, and teachers were free to express their Christian beliefs. I well remember the brief morning ritual consisting of the reading of few bible verses followed by a short prayer conducted by my aunt who was principle of the rural elementary school I attended. Today she would not only be summarily fired, she would probably be prosecuted as well. AFAIK none of my 1950's era community college professors tried to indoctrinate or influence their students on religious matters, even though I am quite sure that the majority of them were either non-believers or nominal Christians.

I have read that a recent survey conducted by a Christian publication found that 70% of recent college graduates from traditional Christian homes reject the doctrine of divine inspiration of holy scripture, and that a large portion of those students have become either agnostics or atheists by the time they graduate from secular colleges and universities. IMHO any Christian parent who sends his/her child off to be singled out, humiliated, and brainwashed by aggressive, hostile anti-Christian professors in today's secular universities is making a major mistake with tragic eternal consequences.

22 posted on 04/13/2008 10:06:13 AM PDT by epow ("Necessity is the plea for infringement of every human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants.")
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts
If the professor acknowledges the possibility that God exists, then he is asking a fair question. This is a philosophy class. It is a metaphysical question. If he says God does not exist, then he is indeed expressing a personal belief in which there is no proof. Therefore, he is a defective philosopher. Why is such a class taught in a community college? I thought community colleges were meant to train students for work.

A philosophy class is supposed to teach one to examine different philosophies, NOT impose the philosophy, nor religion (and atheism IS a religion) upon the students. I suggest that you read this part again:

because he demands that students acknowledge the possibility that God does not exist in order to participate in his philosophy class, which is required for graduation.

You don't have to acknowledge the possibility to study philosophy, any more than you have to acknowledge that pagan gods exist in order to study a pagan religion. Plain and simple, this is a power mad instructor (it's rare to find a real "professor" at a community college) who's trying to impose his or her will on the students.

Oh, and community colleges are NOT just for preparing people for work. You seem to be thinking of trade schools or "technical colleges." A community college can give out AA (2 year) degrees, as well as being a way to save up money for a 4 degree by spending less on the first 2 years. Many community colleges have agreements with the state universities to accept all the lower level course credits. It's quite common.

Mark

23 posted on 04/13/2008 10:45:59 AM PDT by MarkL
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts
I thought community colleges were meant to train students for work.

Many J.C's are "stepping-stones" to 4 yr. colleges...

Not to mention a less co$tly way to get the first 2 yrs out of the way...on the way to a B.S. / B.A.

24 posted on 04/13/2008 10:50:09 AM PDT by Osage Orange (Molon Labe)
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To: kellynla
I think David needs to write a bigger book, or make it a multi-volume set...

The Professors, the 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America, David Horowitz, Regnery Publishing Inc., ISBN 978-1-59698-525-4, 2007.

25 posted on 04/13/2008 11:29:13 AM PDT by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: J40000
I had one, my wife had one at her college too. The first day in class they state clearly... “if you dare interject God or religion or your personal belief that these things are real, good or positive -or even EXIST, you will never see a grade higher than a D.”

Well, I know what side of the debate I am on, but to play devil's advocate, if a student's response to any philosophical discussion or debate is a quote from the bible, he/she deserves nothing better than a "D".

And yes, Dorothy, there are students like that.

26 posted on 04/13/2008 11:33:49 AM PDT by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts
If the professor acknowledges the possibility that God exists, then he is asking a fair question.

Excellent remark!

If the professor announces at the very start, " I acknowledge, for purposes of this class, that God might exist. But also for purposes of this class, we will assume that He might not exist, and indeed does not. Is that clear?"

That could save a lot of wasted time arguing the unarguable.

27 posted on 04/13/2008 11:39:50 AM PDT by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: kellynla

Need to sue each and every time...


28 posted on 04/13/2008 4:03:21 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
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To: kellynla

This prof. has no business being an educator. A college education is supposed to teach students to develop their own ideas based on available information, and how to utilize their own thought process. This guy says you either adopt my ideas or you fail ! He is being a dictator. Then he more or less says if you don’t like what I have to say you are closed minded and hurtful. This guy has some issues and he shouldn’t be a professor at a college. He is the one being closed minded and hurtful. The tolerance door swings 2 ways. He shouldn’t be teaching - he has the wrong attitude ! Give him the boot the tax payers and people paying tuition deserve better. I never had a teacher this bad at Wantagh High or in College.


29 posted on 04/20/2008 6:58:29 AM PDT by msaved56
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