L@mplighterM
07-20-2002, 08:49 PM
Saturday, July 20, 2002 5:00PM EDT
UNC changes assignment for students offended by book on Islam
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.(AP) - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill won't force incoming freshmen to read a book about Islam, but those who don't will have to write a one-page paper about their religious objections to the book.
After the threat of a lawsuit, UNC-CH administrators quietly added the disclaimer Wednesday to their Web site about the mandatory reading selection, "Approaching the Qur'n: The Early Revelations."
The new option makes the situation worse by requiring objectors to defend their religious beliefs in class, critics said.
"Rather than defuse concern about this issue, I think they serve to stoke the flame and cause people to be more entrenched in their objection to this requirement," said Joe Glover, president of the Virginia-based Family Policy Network, a conservative Christian group.
Glover said his organization had been searching for a plaintiff who believes the requirement violates First Amendment freedoms.
"If I'm an incoming 18-year-old freshman, I have to read this one-sided book about Islam that paints it as a religion of peace, or step out of line, present my papers, defy the university requirement and explain my objection," he said. "Is this still America?"
UNC-CH is requiring freshmen to read the book and participate in discussion groups Aug. 19 during the first week of the semester.
The book, translated by Michael Sells, includes 35 sections of the holy book of Islam and a CD with a series of recitations in Arabic. Carl Ernst, UNC-CH professor of religious studies, has used the book twice in freshman seminars and said his students benefited from their exposure to the Quran.
"The Quran is a text of central importance to a billion people," he said. "To be educated and not have a clue about what that means, then we have a ways to go."
Information from: News & Observer
http://24hour.newsobserver.com/nc24hour/ncnews/v-print/story/1568738p-1597806c.html
Quite frankly I don’t think anyone has enough balls to teach the truth about Islam. I know I wouldn’t for fear of reprisal (a bit for myself and a whole lot for my family. I’ve spoken to a couple of teachers in the public school system about the sugar-coated garbage that they put on kids plates.
UNC changes assignment for students offended by book on Islam
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.(AP) - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill won't force incoming freshmen to read a book about Islam, but those who don't will have to write a one-page paper about their religious objections to the book.
After the threat of a lawsuit, UNC-CH administrators quietly added the disclaimer Wednesday to their Web site about the mandatory reading selection, "Approaching the Qur'n: The Early Revelations."
The new option makes the situation worse by requiring objectors to defend their religious beliefs in class, critics said.
"Rather than defuse concern about this issue, I think they serve to stoke the flame and cause people to be more entrenched in their objection to this requirement," said Joe Glover, president of the Virginia-based Family Policy Network, a conservative Christian group.
Glover said his organization had been searching for a plaintiff who believes the requirement violates First Amendment freedoms.
"If I'm an incoming 18-year-old freshman, I have to read this one-sided book about Islam that paints it as a religion of peace, or step out of line, present my papers, defy the university requirement and explain my objection," he said. "Is this still America?"
UNC-CH is requiring freshmen to read the book and participate in discussion groups Aug. 19 during the first week of the semester.
The book, translated by Michael Sells, includes 35 sections of the holy book of Islam and a CD with a series of recitations in Arabic. Carl Ernst, UNC-CH professor of religious studies, has used the book twice in freshman seminars and said his students benefited from their exposure to the Quran.
"The Quran is a text of central importance to a billion people," he said. "To be educated and not have a clue about what that means, then we have a ways to go."
Information from: News & Observer
http://24hour.newsobserver.com/nc24hour/ncnews/v-print/story/1568738p-1597806c.html
Quite frankly I don’t think anyone has enough balls to teach the truth about Islam. I know I wouldn’t for fear of reprisal (a bit for myself and a whole lot for my family. I’ve spoken to a couple of teachers in the public school system about the sugar-coated garbage that they put on kids plates.