Re: CITR and the Koran

Following that argument, though, there would be no grounds for the existence
religious studies programs in state or other publicly funded universities. There's
a wide difference between "studying" a religious text as a historically and
culturally important text, and "teaching" a religious text as absolute truth.
Those who have such problems with the Koran being required reading are collapsing
that distinction -- I don't think this is something we need to encourage. There's
a big difference between "depiction" and "advocacy," between "representing" a
belief or idea and "arguing for" it.

Jim

"Matthew S. Mahoney" wrote:

> I believe it's an issue because a state or federally-run institution is
> forcing the reading of a religious text-there is no separation here. i do
> agree, however, that the fact that it is the Koran gives people a more viable
> plank with which to argue, especially in our current context. while i think
> education on Islam is direly needed, I do agree it is mixing church and state.
> i also, unfortunately, agree that if the text in question were the Bible, this
> problem would not have evolved. thoughts?
>
> >===== Original Message From "m e g h a n" <bedroomdancing@hotmail.com> =====
> >I think that this issue shouldn't even be an issue. It's just another book.
> >And I know there wouldn't be an controversey if students had been asked to
> >read the Christian Bible. And *that* scares me.
> >>From: Mike42082@aol.com
> >>Reply-To: bananafish@roughdraft.org
> >>To: bananafish@roughdraft.org
> >>Subject: CITR and the Koran
> >>Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 20:24:01 -0400
> >>
> >>Have you guys heard about the summer reading program at UNC that required
> >>students to read the Koran over the summer and hold discussion groups? It
> >>has gotten alot of national attention on NPR, I think. There have been
> >>several lawsuits over it and even the governor vowed to withdraw state
> >>funding if UNC went through with the program.
> >>
> >>I am a Junior now at UNC, so I didn't have to read the book, but I was
> >>wondering what you guys think of the issue, if you have heard about it. It
> >>reminds me of when I was in high school and CITR was pulled from reading
> >>lists along with Romeo and Juliet, etc. But this is a liberal arts
> >>college, you know? It's supposed to shake your head up--not tell you that
> >>you've been right your whole life.
> >>
> >>In the past year, my professors and TAs have conveyed non-confrontation
> >>with issues like this. Do you guys think there is a chance that academic
> >>environments, like public universities, are susceptible (to any degree) to
> >>the whims of society?
> >>
> >>I guess it just scares me.
> >>
> >>Mike
> >>-
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> >
> >
> >
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> " I would gladly trade all my friends for the company of children."
> -Albert Einstien
>
> Matthew S. Mahoney
> Station B 8209
> matthew.s.mahoney@vanderbilt.edu
>
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