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To: aNYCguy

"You claim that because "myth" is a more insulting term than "allegory," a college course referring to myths denies certain religious students equal access to education."

Once again, you find it necessary to restate my position as something other than what it is, and to exclude from consideration the most important points: we *know* that the course was so titled specifically for the purpose of insulting students of a specific religious persuasion. We *know* that this was done by the head of the department, and that he *intended* to create hostility toward those students. And we *know* that the course title didn't merely "refer to myths," but explicitly labeled a specific religious persuasion "mythology."

And it's not that "myth" is "more insulting" than "allegory."

"Myth" is insulting, and "allegory" is not.

"Are students really being denied an education because their religious "allegories" are referred to as "myths" in an elective religious studies course?"

They are not merely referred to as myths in a course; they are labeled "mythology" in official materials published by a public institution, in print and most likely on the Internet.

There is a substantial difference between a professor stating that he believes it to be myth, and the institution itself stating in print that it *is* mythology, particularly when the representative of that institution is on record as saying that he did it to deliver a slap in the face to adherents of that belief.

"What would you say about the religious students who don't have the exact same aesthetic sensibilities as yours, and consider it an insult to refer to their beliefs as "allegories?"

Produce one. Produce someone who thinks I am insulting him by saying that I respectfully disagree with his interpretation of the Bible, while defending his right to interpret it that way under the freedom of religious expression clause.

And further note that I am not lableling his views "allegory" in official publications of a public institution, nor would I do such a thing. I might allow a course title such as, "Genesis: Allegory or Literal History?" but a title such as "Genesis and Other Allegories" would be entirely inappropriate.


589 posted on 11/29/2005 6:14:50 PM PST by dsc
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To: dsc
They are not merely referred to as myths in a course; they are labeled "mythology" in official materials published by a public institution, in print and most likely on the Internet.

Okay. I think I have a better understanding of your position now.

With this understanding, my question to you is whether or not you think a course entitled "Aztec Mythology" or "Greek Mythology" would deny adherents to those faiths equal access to education.

The unprofessional and embarrassing email by the professor in this particular case can be addressed later. Do you think that any references to specific mythologies should be taboo, period?
590 posted on 11/29/2005 6:26:14 PM PST by aNYCguy
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