Posted on 04/28/2017 9:30:13 AM PDT by Syncro
A Northern Arizona University student was recently asked to stop reading his Bible prior to the start of one of his classes, according to audio obtained by Campus Reform.
In a recording of the February incident, provided to Campus Reform by Kevin Cavanaugh for Congress, Mark Holden explains the situation to History Department Chair Derek Heng, who had been called in by the instructor, Dr. Heather Martel, after Holden had refused her request that he put his Bible away.
“So, will you, will you, will you, put your Bible away?” Tweet This
Holden tells Heng that he had arrived early to his U.S. history course and, as usual, used the spare time to read his Bible, but claims that Martel had objected to the routine because she didn’t want to see a Bible in front of her.
“So Prof. Martel says that she doesn’t want you sitting in front of her because you put, you know, a Bible out, right?” Heng can be heard explaining to Holden, adding that while he doesn’t “know what the dynamics [are] going on in the classroom,” the “real key is to make sure that, you know, the class is able to go on and that you are in the classroom.”
“So she doesn’t want me in the front because I have my Bible out?” Holden responded for clarification, to which Heng responded by inquiring as to why Holden had his Bible out in the first place.
[RELATED: College argues that preaching the Gospel is ‘fighting words’]
“No, I think she, I mean, well why do you have your Bible out anyway?” Heng asked, with Holden clarifying that he was “just reading before class” and that the class hadn’t “even started yet.”
Nonetheless, and despite Holden’s protestations that class wasn’t going to begin for “another five minutes,” Heng concluded the conversation by again asking Holden if he would put his Bible away.
“So, will you, will you, will you, put your Bible away?” he asks, to which Holden replies that he always puts his Bible away once class begins, stating that he only reads the Bible “before class” and always makes sure to stow it away “before class starts.”
[RELATED: Clemson evicts man for praying outside free-speech zone]
Prior to the Bible altercation, Holden had been accused by Martel of violating the school’s policy on disruptive classroom behavior for an encounter in which Holden challenged Martel’s views on cultural assimilation.
Holden told Campus Reform that he had cited news reports about two Muslim immigrants who erected a sign declaring that the Koran gives them the right to commit rape, saying he used it as an example of a case in which cultural assimilation might be desirable.
According to an email that Martel sent to Holden explaining the violation, Holden had allegedly interrupted the class multiple times and “made a scene,” only stopping after a classmate intervened.
“Then you raised your hand for most of the rest of class. When I acknowledged that I saw your hand but stated we would be hearing from your classmates instead as you had already had your input, you said in a loud voice: ‘You work for me. I pay your salary,’” Martel alleged in the email, though neither she nor Heng responded to Campus Reform’s requests for elaboration on the matter.
Martel then sent out a second email about the altercation, not just to Holden but to the entire class, outlining “steps to re-instate [sic] civility in the classroom” and declaring emphatically that “hate speech” would not be tolerated.
[RELATED: Criticizing Sharia is ‘hate speech,’ Georgetown students say]
When we were in school if a teacher told one of us we could not read our Bible, there would be a bunch of us reading our Bibles in class the next day.
For most of us that would have first required a scavenge to actually find a Bible but we would have.
Maybe he should prop a satanic bible up on his desk for all to see. Would the prof make any comment?
Does the university have a published list of banned reading materials? If not, then the prof should receive an administrative repercussion.
..."prohibiting the free exercise thereof." [religion]
?????
Lawsuit if they let anyone read any other book before class.
~~~~~~~~
No, the correct answer is, "I am pursuing happiness via the enjoyment of my First Amendment rights. What Constitutional principle is the Instructor exercising?"
“I earned my MBA FRom NAU in 1977.”
Well, I earned my Mechanical Engineering Degree from The University of California at Berkeley in 1965. At that time, Berkeley was going through Mario Savio’s “Free Speech Movement,” The Left’s attempt to be heard. My point is that nothing either of us saw forty of fifty years ago bears any resemblance to what’s going on today.
As conservatives, we understand the symptoms of 1930's Germany. Keeping Anne Coulter from speaking is no different than book burning. The "Brown Shirts" are now wearing black hoodies and masks. If the 2nd Amendment people relax because Trump is POTUS, they are making a huge mistake. It's time to make a counter attack for religious liberty and freedom of speech and assembly. The ACLJ might be a spot to start supporting. The NRA and GOA have long fought over members, but at least we should belong to something. The same vigor we have for gun rights should come for the 1st Amendment from conservative blogs.
I'm old enough to remember the KKK marching in Skokie Ill and the police had to surround them, risking their lives, to allow them to spew their crap. We were taught that protecting their rights protected ours. Today, after watching decades of the flag being burnt, I have to live in fear to wave the flag due to these fascists not wanting to even see a flag. We are losing our country and the 2nd amendment won't survive if the 1st dies.
I attended NAU 1974-1978 and was graduated at the head of my class with a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations. What occurred in this case is 180% out of phase with my experience there. I had no idea that standards which once encouraged and protected free speech had devolved to this point.
I’m furious to learn that this sort of behavior on the part of faculty at my alma mater is not just tolerated but evidently sanctioned by department heads. NAU can forget getting anymore alumni support, financial or otherwise, from me.
That sounds right to me.
bkmk
Your personal furor will go entirely unnoticed by anyone NAU unless you make a point of telling them.
You might find a receptive ear HERE:
https://nau.edu/Giving/Foundation-Contact/
You’re right, we have to spread the Gospel.
But we have to be very careful. The devil’s way is to try to make us think we’re being faithful when what’s really happening is we’re betraying the faith.
Believers know very well where we stand in the cultural wars. But remember this sort of conflict is of the world, and as such can in a subtle manner pull us away from our faith.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:14-15
Dittos!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Flagtown!
Going back to college as a 33 yr. old former Naval Officer was an eye opening experience! I was older than several of my professors, and got on well with all of them, save my Statistics prof. He was FRom Germany — Statistics is difficult at best, and when your prof sounds like Henriech Schnibble, 4 semesters of undergrad and grad Statistics was GREAT FUN!
Politically, as you pointed out, NAU was conservative, and I got on well with the younger students - was Chapter Advisor for the Sigma Chi Fraternity chapter there for several years. All in all, a great experience, and, I got a first class education.
Sorry to hear that the Lumberjacks have gone LIEberal - most disappointing!
You got that right! HST, the beginnings of it were, in hindsight, in place. LIEberals, if nothing else are dedicated!
Did you encounter a real dingbat by the name of Jefferson Poland when you were at Berkeley?
He got kicked out of FSU in 1960 and went to Berkeley to join his fellow dingbats. I earned my BA at FSU in 1964.
Bet if he were reading the Koran or Communist Manifest not a word would have been said.
Lawsuit! x 3 only way to keep free speech free (for now...)
Matthew 10:34
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
I should clarify. It’s good to preach the Gospel, and boldly.
But given the intensity of the culture wars, it’s very tempting to use God’s word as a political weapon. This would be blasphemy.
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