Freethought & Rationalism Archive

scombrid · 07-24-2002, 04:55 AM

UNC decided to require all incoming freshmen to read a text that discusses the Qur'n. It isn't an evangelistic text and I suppose that they thought it a timely reading for incoming students to help them be a tad more worldly. Well the cwazy xtians have decided that the text is forcing a religion on them and filed suit against Chapel Hill.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/07/23/quran.book.lawsuit.ap/index.html" target="_blank">cnn story</a>

Well, UNC knuckled under and said that no one with religious objections had to read the text or attend discussion sessions at orientation. In lieu of the assignment they simply had to write a 1page paper stating their objections. I think that is a great option. Perhaps in writing the paper the objecting kids just might learn just what the hell the 1st ammendment actually says and means. That would be more valuable than learning about Islam.

Here is an article from the website from the organisation objecting to the UNC freshmen assignment.

<a href="http://www.familypolicy.net/nc/unc-islam.shtml" target="_blank">article</a>

Quote:

"Today I am ashamed to admit that I am a graduate of UNC," said Moffitt, a resident of High Point, North Carolina, and a member of Carolina's class of 1981. He added, "The entire university system in North Carolina should be ashamed of itself for forcing a religion on students that many will find not only offensive, but totally opposed to their own religious views."

bolding mine

Other Foot, meet Shoe. Shoe, this is the Other Foot.

Quote:

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) recently identified Christians as the most persecuted people in the world in its annual report to the United Nations. According to the WEA more than 200 million people are denied human rights "simply because they are Christians." Moffitt said, "Now Christian students at UNC who object to being forced to study Islam can be added to that list."

<Al Bundy voice> Am I alone in hating the persecution complex these people have?

Toto · 07-24-2002, 09:25 AM

<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=45&t=000824" target="_blank">another thread on this in Misc Relig Disc</a> with some good on the scene observations.

scombrid · 07-24-2002, 09:38 AM

Thanks for the heads up. I hadn't been to MRD today.

Mendeh · 07-24-2002, 01:21 PM

I wonder what the fraction of non-religous people objecting to the assignment is, and how that compares to the fraction of Christians. I wonder what the fraction of outspoken atheists/agnistics objecting to the assignment is, too, compared to the number of quietly non-religious folks.
And I wonder how many people would just prefer to do a 1-page essay than read a whole bloody book. Doesn't the fact that UNC was so quick to revise its induction procedures say something about how seriously it really takes them, compared to how seriously it wants people to think it takes them?

How's that for a nebulous post, then?

Zachar · 07-25-2002, 01:51 AM

How quaint. Suppose that the text discussed KKKristianity and a Muslim objected? Where would the KKKristians that are bringing this lawsuit be?

Seems to me that this is different than a public elementary or secondary school. A college student isn't the captive audience that a secondary school student is.

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07-24-2002, 09:25 AM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=45&t=000824" target="_blank">another thread on this in Misc Relig Disc</a> with some good on the scene observations.

07-24-2002, 09:38 AM	#3
scombrid Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,759	Thanks for the heads up. I hadn't been to MRD today.

07-24-2002, 01:21 PM	#4
Mendeh Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: London, England Posts: 302	I wonder what the fraction of non-religous people objecting to the assignment is, and how that compares to the fraction of Christians. I wonder what the fraction of outspoken atheists/agnistics objecting to the assignment is, too, compared to the number of quietly non-religious folks. And I wonder how many people would just prefer to do a 1-page essay than read a whole bloody book. Doesn't the fact that UNC was so quick to revise its induction procedures say something about how seriously it really takes them, compared to how seriously it wants people to think it takes them? How's that for a nebulous post, then?

07-25-2002, 01:51 AM	#5
Zachar Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: KS, USA-home MO, USA-school Posts: 18	How quaint. Suppose that the text discussed KKKristianity and a Muslim objected? Where would the KKKristians that are bringing this lawsuit be? Seems to me that this is different than a public elementary or secondary school. A college student isn't the captive audience that a secondary school student is.

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