Posted on 10/21/2005 7:33:34 AM PDT by dukeman
EDINBURGH University is set to ban Bibles from its student halls of residence amid concern that the Holy Book is “discriminatory” and makes students of other faiths feel unwelcome.
The move is the result of protests from the students’ association and is being considered in an effort to pursue a policy of “evenly supporting all faiths”, a university spokesman said yesterday.
A Gideon Bible is traditionally placed in every new student’s room at the start of the academic year and there are currently around 2,000 Bibles in the Pollock Halls campus on the edge of Holyrood Park.
Their distribution is now seen as inappropriate and potentially offensive to non-Christians. The student body is drawn from 120 countries and represents a broad spectrum of faiths, it is argued.
Ruth Cameron, president of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association, said yesterday that it was important that students from different cultures were made to feel welcome. “The student association strongly believes in the importance of ensuring that students of all faiths feel at home in their university accommodation,” she said.
“We simply don’t want to be seen promoting one religion over another. This is not about attacking Christianity. It is about respecting diversity.”
The proposal will be voted on by the student association and is then expected to be rubber stamped by the university.
Two years ago Edinburgh University stopped saying prayers at its graduation ceremonies for similar reasons.
This year Stirling University was forced to abandon plans to remove 6,000 Bibles from its student halls after a storm of protest from offended Christians. As a compromise the university instead invited all religious groups to supply copies of their holy texts.
The Reverend John Munro, a former chaplain at Stirling University, said at the time that withdrawing any book from a place of study smacked of intolerance. “I think there’s an agenda here, seemingly politically correct, but there’s actually a hostility towards faith by those who have none. This is repeating the worst errors which the Christian faith used to have,” he said.
An Edinburgh University spokesman said: “The University of Edinburgh does its best to take the wishes of the student body into account. Further meetings will now determine if, when and how this will be implemented.
“The student body is made up of diverse faith backgrounds which are evenly supported by the University Chaplaincy which pursues a policy of supporting all faiths and none.”
Gideons International distribute more than 63,000,000 copies of its Bible worldwide every year and many appear in hotel rooms, hospitals and prisons.
The Reverend John Lowry, of Niddrie Parish Church in Edinburgh, said: “It is very disappointing from our point of view. But I can understand why people have chosen to do this.”
Perhaps they should replace them with copies of On the Origin of Species. "Students of other faiths" never seem to have a problem with it.
OOOOKKKAAAAYYYYY.....Muslim incoming....
Uh huh. Sure.
the fools
it was that heritage which gave them their prominence.
the founding fathers excelled through garnering their strength and focus from that background. the university itself was a product of that backbone
Have they tried burning them?
Yes, be fair by banning all material/references/comments that show Christianity in a positive light. These people (Satan worshipers?) are truly disgusting.
Even here, in ultra-liberal Montgomery County, MD similar things are happening. Government schools are out today (Friday) specifically for a Jewish holiday (no problem). Of course we no longer have a Christmas holiday... we have a Winter Break. All references to Christ MUST GO.
Must move to Red State soon. Stop paying taxes to Socialists/Satan worshipers.
I have a problem with 'ban Bibles.' So, does that mean a student bringing their own Bibles is banned from doing so?
Respect diversity by banning one part of the diversitute (a word which I think I just made up) equation. Bigots...
In other news, the university has decided to pass out korans to all students. /sarc
probably caving into exactly that
the decay moved in, revenues ran out and now they are coasting on an old reputation looking to generate revenues from any source and are thus catering to those markets.
What do you suppose would happen if a militant Islamic group demanded that Korans be placed in every dormitory? How many hours (minutes) would pass before they capitulated?
then the muslims bought the old chevy, repackaged it as a koran fuelled funny car to their style and taste
What on earth is so offensive about a Bible? Were they forcing students to read them at gunpoint? I am a Christian, but if I saw a Koran on the table, I would pick it up and read it out of curiosity. I would never even think about being offended by it! I've never understood why people think it is offensive to hear or see different beliefs ... unless their own faith is so weak that they are afraid they will be converted!
What on earth is so offensive about a Bible? Were they forcing students to read them at gunpoint? I am a Christian, but if I saw a Koran on the table, I would pick it up and read it out of curiosity. I would never even think about being offended by it! I've never understood why people think it is offensive to hear or see different beliefs ... unless their own faith is so weak that they are afraid they will be converted!
Borders, language, culture. These three things make up a nation. "Diversity" destroys all three.
I'm impressed by the University's capacity for self-loathing. That's assuming there are any Christians there.
God just laughs. So do I.
Bet they won't ban the Koran.
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