Edinburgh University going 'PC' crazy?

[darth_haggis]

Scottish Broadcaster Wary of Edinburgh's Bible-Ban Plan
September 6, 2006

A Christian radio broadcaster in Scotland says Edinburgh University is displaying extreme intolerance for Christianity by planning to ban Bibles from its student residence halls.

A university spokesman tells the Times of London the ban is a response to student association protests that the Bibles are a means of discrimination against non-Christians -- and an effort to treat all religious faiths on campus equally. Edinburgh University has had a long-standing practice of placing a Gideons Bible in the room of all new students. Last year, the school banned prayer from graduation ceremonies.

Ian Dunlop is chairman of Scotland's first full-time Christian radio station, Revival FM. He says by its actions, Edinburgh University is discriminating against the Christian faith.

Dunlop says he believes that to ban Bibles because they perhaps in some way might discriminate against students of other faiths "flies in the face of everything that we stand for here in the U.K. as a nation standing for freedom and tolerance."

The Christian broadcaster compares the university's policy to religious intolerance on display four centuries ago.

"I think that's going back, if you don't mind me saying so, to the days of the Pilgrim fathers," notes Dunlop, "when the founders of your great country found themselves being persecuted and having to leave for the New World because of the lack of tolerance of faith in the U.K. at that time."

Scotland's University of Stirling recently dumped its plan to remove 6,000 Bibles from campus after protests from Christian students.

In my war on 'over-political correctness', how fitting a story.

[Frankie LiDeo]

Seems reasonable enough to me. They're not going to put a bible in every new student's room? Fine! Students are of all faiths, to assume it to be Christian (if any) is out-dated.

[endless psych]

Well if they really were going P.C crazy presumably they would be putting a copy of every faiths major religious text in the rooms along with information about the likes of humanism etc...

I for one am not going to get up in arms because EUSA's christian association has attracted the attention of a christian radio station...

[hotblonde]

I think that's acceptable...it is an invasion of human rights having a bible intrusion in the first place. Is it strictly PC tho'?

[JohnBoy]

Yeah, the only reson the guy is sayng they are being discriminated against is because they have changed something they have done for such a long time but they are really just leveling the playing field for all religions. If are remving 6000 bibles from the campus im sure that it means that there ARENT 6000 other religious texts getting given out free, then it would be discrimination... Otherwise it kinda makes sense

[darth_haggis]

Now, had that report specified "the bibles were in the rooms", then I wouldnt have used the term 'PC crazy'.

My assumption, was, these were not placed by beds, but just 'available' in the halls.
Even if they are placed by beds, its not directly and purposfuly offensive, is it? Its just 'there', 'available' - if you dont want it, remove it.

You go to some hotels, they have bibles in the bedside cabinet.
If you dont want it, dont like it, cant tolerate it, remove it.


This is predominantly a Christian country.

If I went to Israel and stayed in an Arabic hotel and there wasnt a copy of the Bible I wouldnt 'scream outrage', nor would I if it contained a copy of the Qur'an.

Its not racism or discrimination as its not stopping others beliefs, its just not catering for them on the first instance.

[Frankie LiDeo]

It did: ''In the room of all new students'' Why bother? Why should Christians get special treatment?

[Kenny Everett]

I remember falling asleep at school when the Gideon folk came to hand out the bible.

Good wee snooze as I recall.

[endless psych]

Originally Posted by darth_haggis

You go to some hotels, they have bibles in the bedside cabinet.
If you dont want it, dont like it, cant tolerate it, remove it.

This is predominantly a Christian country.

If I went to Israel and stayed in an Arabic hotel and there wasnt a copy of the Bible I wouldnt 'scream outrage', nor would I if it contained a copy of the Qur'an.

Its not racism or discrimination as its not stopping others beliefs, its just not catering for them on the first instance.

Well in Israel you might be more likely to find a copy of the Tora... Putting a bible in the rooms without putting other religious texts there is discrimination its discrimination in favour of the Christian faith. This maybe a predominanty christian country but it is also a multi-faith country.

In realistic terms not removing the bibles isn't going to offend anyone however in realistic terms removing them is not going to affect the vast majority of students.

[hotblonde]

Originally Posted by TheChildcatcher

It did: ''In the room of all new students'' Why bother? Why should Christians get special treatment?

Not sure I agree with all of that....I mean burning, feeding to the lions and crucifixion are all great examples of special treatment

[darth_haggis]

Originally Posted by TheChildcatcher

It did: ''In the room of all new students'' Why bother? Why should Christians get special treatment?

my bad
Like I say, it doesnt really change my vie won this, however, I wouldnt have said PC gone mad, as I can see why this could be viewed as 'putting it under someones nose'.
Then again, there are adverts, churches, people in the street selling religion, so its not really any different.

It certainly is not 'special treatment'

Its just catering for a country where the predominant religion is Christianity.

It might be a country that welcomes different faiths and cultures, but that doesnt mean we have to go 'political correct daft'.

For spite, Id start flagging a hell of a lot of stuff as offensive - why should one mans take on 'what is offensive to him' be any more important than what I think is offensive - since PC is all about equality?

Watch South Parks Christmas episode "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo" - it captures the nonsense of political correctness very well indeed.

[djbarry]

But surely every good christian should have their own copy of the bible, especially if they are moving to somewhere new.

[endless psych]

Originally Posted by darth_haggis

Its just catering for a country where the predominant religion is Christianity.

(Data from religioustolerance.org and from various sources)

16% of the British adult population consider religion to be very important in their lives.

Data from 1992 shows that only 14.4% of the UK population belong to a Christian denomination.

However it is true to say that around 70% of the British population identify with Christianity as their heritage or religion even if they are not active in pursuing their beliefs or 'faith'. (which to my mind means that they aren't really christians but thats a different debate entirely )

[Boomslang]

Why don't they just allow students to specify, on thier application form to the student halls, which religious text (if any) they would like to receive copy of, eg. The Bible, The Qur'an, The Tao Te Ching, original copies of The Dead Sea Scrolls, 'Scientology for Dummies', Delia's How to Cook Book....

[endless psych]

Originally Posted by Boomslang

Why don't they just allow students to specify on thier application form to the student halls which religious text (if any) they would like a copy of, eg. The Bible, The Qur'an, The Tao Te Ching, original copies of The Dead Sea Scrolls, 'Scientology for Dummies', Delia's How to Cook Book....

That would make sense - however it would also cost Edinburgh University (or EUSA) a lot of money it just does not have...