Hypocrisy in education (Jew, Evangelical, and Catholic sue UNC for Islam book)

What would be the response of civil libertarians and leftist academics if a major state-run university decided to mandate that all incoming freshmen students study a commentary on the Bible written by me?

"A state school cannot force one religion on students of varying faiths, or even students who practice no faith," they would assert.

However, a comparable situation is actually happening at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which has gotten a taste of that old-time religion ... of Islam.

The university is, in fact, requiring all incoming freshmen and transfer students to participate in a course on Islam that features a book titled, "Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations." The book, written by Michael Sells, is an accumulation of passages from the Islamic holy text that includes commentaries by Mr. Sells. After reading the book, students must attend discussion sessions in August.

So let me get this straight: Kids can't say the Pledge of Allegiance at school because it mentions God. Students also may not allude to their faith at high school graduations, pray before football games or be instructed in abstinence programs that utilize biblical Scripture (all recent court rulings). But this university can force college students to take a course on Islam.

The North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union – the organization that is typically opposed to all religious references in the public square – has nebulously advised the university to "proceed with caution," the Herald Sun reported.

Does this mean the ACLU will now endorse voucher programs and the Ten Commandments at schools?

Thankfully, a non-profit conservative organization in Forest, Va., is challenging the university's required course on Islam. The Family Policy Network has sought out three student plaintiffs – one an evangelical Christian, one a Catholic and one Jewish – who are legally challenging the mandated course. Two other plaintiffs in the suit are James Yacovelli and Terry Moffitt, a UNC alumnus who serves as the North Carolina director of the Family Policy Network.

The organization's president, Joe Glover, said that the book is biased because the author is a renowned Islamist and that the nature of the book would be more comparable to a book on the New Testament written by an evangelical leader like me. But you can bet that none of my books are going to be required at this or any other school because my books are not politically correct. It would not be fashionable to require a book by me.

This is nothing more than an effort by trendy academics to say, "Look how tolerant and diverse and multicultural we are."

The lawsuit charges that the university is infringing on students' First Amendment right to religious freedom by requiring them to read an obviously one-sided book on a particular religion.

"Our long-term goal is to make sure the precedent is affirmed that you cannot force people to take a class about a religious text at a state university," said Mr. Glover.

Let me say that I have no problem with this or any other university encouraging students to be respectful of Islamic students in the wake of Sept. 11. All Americans need to understand that a large number of Muslims are peaceful people. But this course goes far beyond such an effort.

It could be argued that UNC should have offered a similar course on Christianity after one of those lamebrain individuals bombed an abortion clinic a few years ago. Shouldn't UNC students have been required to take a course teaching them that virtually all pro-life Christians oppose such violence?

Again, that course would not be fashionable and therefore unacceptable to a politically correct administration.

The lawsuit against UNC, filed in federal district court in Greensboro, was prepared by the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy of Tupelo, Miss.

AFA Chief Counsel Steve Crampton said, "It is hard to believe that a university with the stature of UNC would be unaware of established law prohibiting the religious indoctrination of students. The students represented in this case epitomize the type of victims our organization exists to protect – not only those who are the plaintiffs in this action, but many others whose fear is too great to risk further harm by speaking out."

While we, as Christians, oppose the abject secularism that is taking place in our courts and throughout society, we also oppose the force-feeding of one religion on students who embrace many different faiths. It's time our nation and our schools revert to a climate of respect for people of all faiths. When we stop persecuting students for what they believe, the diversity UNC claims to be seeking will fall into place naturally.

The Family Policy Network has sought out three student plaintiffs – one an evangelical Christian, one a Catholic and one Jewish – who are legally challenging the mandated course.

Now if we can only work together on other issues that concern us...

The Christian Coalition was a failure because there are not enouigh of that variety Christian to make a big enough impact. If we are truly to bring back the rule of the moral majority, we will need to ally ourselves with others who share our morals but may differ somewhat on theology (Mormons, Catholics, Jews). I have been saying this for years, but it finally seems that some of our "leaders" are starting to realize that we can't go it alone. I say this as an evangelical myself.

Now that I've had my fun and shared my little bit off topic rant, I'll also add that this article is spot on. If Jerry Falwell wrote a commentary on the Bible and all incoming fresmen at UNC had to read it we can all imagine what would happen. Christianity is no longer PC, and we're going to have to change that.

incorporated in onme of the Campus Quads is a "Kosher Kitchen" which in my eyes represents the government intrusion in establishing a Religion.

I would think it's more likely a matter of the market; campus food services are usually hired from outside. If none of them thought they could make money by providing kosher food, none would. In any case, it seems a small enough accommodation -- otherwise, students who wish to keep kosher would have to make other provisions for food, although they must pay the same meal charges as the other students. Anyway, lots of non-Jews like kosher food.

I said six months ago that the WTC attacks would INCREASE America's desire for Islam, not destroy it. I was flamed on FR for even suggesting the idea.

But look what is happening here. It's kind of like AIDS. When HIV/AIDS was discovered in the '80s and homosexual sex was determined to play a huge part in spreading the disease, did we see America turn its back on man-to-man sex? No, over the next 15 years, we embraced it and were writing laws to promote it.

Unfortunately, I see the same thing happening with Islam.

Why the equivocation? Islam as a culture is opposed to the pluralism, multiculturalism, and tolerance that the Christian ethos of our nations promotes. Some muslims in the US have been able to assimilate and reinterpret the extreme violence at the core of Islam through the influence of the Christian ethos they found on coming to America. Many chose not to express their violent Islamist views out of fear of reprisals. In the rest of the world Islam's agenda is either conversion or cultural domination through the power of the sword. Islam is commited to the destruction of the west.

It never has been "PC". Good luck.

In the old days in this country, Christianity was the ever present backdrop to our culture. That has changed, forever. Now here, as in many others places in the world, Christianity will be competing in the full marketplace of religious ideas. But that's OK. It has a winning and freeing message, for those who truly consider it. That is why 1/3 of humanity is Christian. The attacks and slanders, so commonplace today, against Christianity are helping many nominal Christians reacquaint themselves with their faith. Many of those are rediscovering the joy and beauty therein, and are returning to the fold.

In their eagerness to eradicate Christianity and Judaism, "Liberals" have decided to embrace Islam. Actually, Islam and "Liberalism" have much in common: control; conformity; contempt for freedom of thought, freedom of speech, liberty, liberalism. "Liberals" would love to establish a "Liberal" Taliban, with severe judgments on those who oppose "Liberal" tenets.

I STILL say they are going after this ALL WRONG!!!

This would be the PERFECT occasion to challenge the hypocrisy and bigotry of ACLU and other such groups, as well as the p.c. police on campus.

INSTEAD OF suing to prohibit the book being added, CAMPAIGN TO HAVE BOOKS ON CHRISTIANITY--written by Christians--AND JUDAISM--written by practicing Jews--ADDED TO THE LIST!!!

As I've said before, I don't care if they read this book. What I care about is that they're going to tout this book, but they wouldn't DARE allow a book on Christianity to be included (Judaism, they probably would, as long as it was written by someone who is "acceptable" to the p.c. police).

If they will allow C. S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" to be read and study mandatorily, then I'll have no problem with it. Education is education, after all. But the p.c. police have tried to strike all such allusions to faith and religion from the public discourse, and that is WRONG.

Their HYPOCRISY would be underlined MUCH more effectively if the initiative were taken to ADD teaching and discussion of religions other than Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or (in a limited way) Judaism. The "multiculturalists" have an agenda and it is THAT agenda that must be exposed. That's FAR more important than if a bunch of "skulls-full-of-mush" are required to read about Islam.

If they were simply required to read sections of the Koran I would not be opposed, I think it's important to understand the enemy.

But instead they are required to read a sugar coated interpretation of the Koran. In essence they read this "Islam is peace" book, then they assemble in groups and discuss it, and anyone that disagrees with this "Islam is peace" message is called a bigot and a Nazi.

We're indoctrinating our own kids, and doing our enemies work for them.

Maryz, Koher, food is based upon purely religious protocol and must be blessed , prepared etc. under the supervision of a Rabbi.
As opposed to Jewish Ethnic Food which is the best tasting food in the world and I lived on it as I grew up in New York City. It should not be a part of the N.Y.S.U.System since U.S. Taxpayers subsidize the system and it is an unwarranted imposition of religion on the people who do not subscribe to Judaism.
There is another Hebrew school wholly funded by the U.S. Taxpayers in upstate New York. It is run by a Hasidic Sect and only has hebrew children but funded by Taxdollars under Coumo and now Pataki. Go Figger!
Listen the wholo 9th circuit was really upset by the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to Our Flag.
P.S. People who like Kosher food can find many places other than the campus to get it, what is good for the goose is good for the Gander.

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