Group asks judge to halt UNC reading requirement (Required to read the Koran)

AP ^ | July 27, 2002 | AP

[jern]

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.(AP) - A Christian organization suing the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to stop a reading requirement on Islam is asking a federal court to speed up the process.

The American Family Association Center for Law & Policy in Mississippi asked the court Friday to halt the requirement while the case is decided. The university is requiring freshmen to read "Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations," a book that contains 35 passages from Islam's holy book.

Students are to discuss the reading in a seminar Aug. 19.

Chancellor James Moeser has defended the reading requirement.

"We chose the book because since September 11 many of us have wondered what the core teachings of Islam really are," Moeser has said.

"We expect Carolina students to learn about ideas, philosophies and practices that they never encountered before," he wrote. "We offer the summer reading this year in that spirit of seeking understanding - not in advocacy of Islam over Christianity or Judaism or any other religion."

But AFA's Center for Law & Policy says the book "promotes the Qur'an with religious zeal, holding it out as a work of beauty, virtue and vitality."

The suit was filed Monday in federal court in Greensboro.

Information from: The Charlotte Observer

[wimpycat]

You should change the title of this thread. They're not being required to read the Koran. They're being required to read a book about the Koran, with carefully chosen excerpts and a very slanted interpretation of it.

[watchin]

"The Early Revelations" are the concilliatory passages, before Muhammed was rejected, before he had real power, and therefore do not express "what the core teachings of Islam really are".

The fact that the book contains only the "early revelations" shows it is nothing but sentimental liberal PC claptrap designed to teach young people the lie about islam - that it is a religion of peace.

[Grut]

AFA is a fake right-wing organization run by liberals to embarass conservatives, isn't it?

[watchin]

You're right, and I think I'd rather have them forced to read the koran itself than some PC drivel about the koran.

I suppose the perpetrators of this nonsense realized that those who read the koran can never again believe that islam is a religion of peace.

[BenLurkin]

"Somewhere there near you hometown,
professor's robe or judge's gown
there is a leftist who must go . . ."
from THE STOCKPILE SONG by Will E. Nelson

[watchin]

Pretty conservative group, I'd say

The American Family Association Center for Law & Policy

From their site:

Located in Tupelo, Mississippi and Washington, D.C., the Center for Law & Policy engages in constitutional litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country, and advises state and federal legislators on constitutional, political and legal issues. The Center for Law & Policy also drafts legislation for governmental bodies at the local, state, and federal level.

The Center for Law & Policy is headed by Stephen M. Crampton. The Center responds to the requests of Christians for legal representation involving first amendment free speech and free exercise rights as well as the constitutional issues involved in the continuing battle against pornography and obscenity.

The Center for Law & Policy was established in 1990, and is the legal arm of the American Family Association, Inc.

[kayak]

NC ping list material here, CD.

[07055]

"We chose the book because since September 11 many of us have wondered what the core teachings of Islam really are,"

Funny, since September 11th, I think the core teachings of Islam have become crystal clear to anyone paying attention.

[Kermit]

Bingo! You nailed it. Hannity and Colmes had the author of the book on and you could just feel his anti-Christian vibes. There is nothing about Jihad in the book, so how can the following possibly be true?

""We chose the book because since September 11 many of us have wondered what the core teachings of Islam really are," Moeser has said."

Especially in light of 9/11, where the jihadis attacked America, what is studying the parts of the Koran, which have NOTHING to do with jihad, tell us about the attackers.

[Publius6961]

Chancellor James Moeser has defended the reading requirement.

He can defend it all he wants.
Just tell us whose idea this was.

This is critical.
It is inevitably one or two individuals.

After they are taken care of, (suit, scrutiny, shunning, lots of ways) and similarly a few others elsewhere, the problem will go away.

[Constitution Day]

NC ping list material here, CD.

Thanks kayak!
This is the first time I've been on FR since Friday.

CD

[Constitution Day]

NC ping!

Please FRmail me if you want on or off this NC Ping List.

[Lee'sGhost]

The posters who say that the heading is wrong bec they are being to read a book ABOUT the Koran are dead on. The lamestream media isn't reporting this -- I wouldn't have known had it not been for hearing ab it on the Jerry Agar show. He (or his guest) made a great analogy: It's like being require to read a book about the Bible written by Jerry Falwell and being told that THAT's what Christianity is all about. Apparently this book leaves out all the good stuff about killing Christians and beating your wife.

[JWinNC]

Bump