<a href="http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/3722622.htm" target="_blank">UNC sued over Islam assignment</a>
I think the requirement is a good one, personally.
-JD
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by JD Heel:
I think the requirement is a good one, personally.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A public institution can't force anyone to study religion...the requirement is a bad one...
this just goes to show you how short sighted these Christian fundamental religious groups are...this decision by Moeser supports their own claims to forcing all of us to learn the ways of Jesus.
I guarantee you if Moeser required students to read : "Approaching the New Testament: The Early Revelations"...the lawsuit participants would be quite different (well, except for the one described as a Jew)...
This is just bad precedent. Moeser is wrong, here...
It all depends on your interpretation of the First Amendment. I don't view it as the school's (and thus, government's) endorsement or promotion of Islam.
I don't know how it will all shake out -- maybe they'll do away with it. But, I think it would have been a good class for students to take....
-JD
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by JD Heel:
don't view it as the school's (and thus, government's) endorsement or promotion of Islam.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">But it is...the school is forcing each student to study Islam...
<small>[ July 24, 2002, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: p5mmr9 ]</small>
A study of the principles of a religion are not an endorsement of the religion.
A school might also force students to study Nazi history and principles -- that does not mean it endorses Naziism.
-JD
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by JD Heel:
A study of the principles of a religion are not an endorsement of the religion.
A school might also force students to study Nazi history and principles -- that does not mean it endorses Naziism.
-JD</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Amen.
Awareness is a key word here. UNC wants their students to be aware of culture around them.
Forcing students to perform Islamic rituals and so forth would be an endorsement of the religion.
Learning the ways is not.
Only in america would someone sue for the sake of not learning something.
If this were UNC forcing its students to study the ways of Jesus, everyone would be up in arms. This is a bad precedent and it will not hold water...trust me. This requirement will be removed.
<a href="http://ncaabbs.com/forums/ncaa/boards/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003284" target="_blank">Judge upholds program (thread in the Sports Bar)</a>
-JD