ACLU stands against bill allowing Bible studies courses in public schools

[MineralMan]

10. I took a World Religions course the second time I went to

college. Sadly, my experience was not the same as yours. The instructor (not a professor) was a retired Baptist minister. We had a pretty decent textbook for the class, which I read before the first session, since it was after spring break. Then, when I went into the class for the first day, the instructor began his first lecture by saying, "Don't pay any attention to the textbook for this class. It's all wrong. Christianity is the only correct religion, so this class will study Christianity, rather than the other religions."

Not a good start, I was thinking. At the time, I was a 24-year-old recent veteran and atheist who was no longer nervous around college professors. So, I spoke up. I said, "I didn't come to this class to get preached to about Christianity, sir. The class description says that the class will look at the religions of the world, their impact on history, and compare their beliefs and practices. Is that not what you're planning for this class?"

Well, that went over like an overfed goose. The retired Baptist preacher started laying into me, telling me that I was not going to dictate the contents of HIS class. He said that he would teach it as he pleased.

So, I stood up and walked out. Later that day, I dropped into the Dean of Humanities office and recounted what the instructor had said, and allowed as how I'd have to withdraw from the class, since it didn't sound like it was going to be anything like the course description in the catalog. The Dean said, "I understand. Thank you for bringing that to my attention." Then, he signed my withdrawal form.

So, I withdrew from the class, which ended up being the first and last course taught by that retired Baptist preacher. He was dismissed from his temporary position as an instructor. Later, I took a proper comparative religions class.

Some folks just can't do the right thing. They have to let their personal biases control everything they do, and can't step away from them long enough to be objective. That's what happens in schools like the ones in Alabama. The courses will be little more than proselytizing for Christianity. And that's the problem.