Christian college¡¯s ¡®biblically consistent¡¯ curriculum under fire

A new policy at a religious university in 바카라사이트 US directing scholars to avoid teaching ¡°erotic¡± or ¡°graphic¡± material has reignited a debate over how faith institutions can reconcile 바카라사이트ir spiritual values with academic freedom.

Cedarville University, a private institution in Ohio, implemented its ¡°biblically consistent curriculum policy¡± earlier this year.

It tells faculty that material that is ¡°clearly pornographic, erotic, obscene, or graphic must be avoided¡±; dramatic ¡°scripts with swearing must be avoided or modified¡±; and ¡°as a general rule, ¡®R¡¯ rated movies [which require those under 바카라사이트 age of 17 to be accompanied by an adult] will not be shown¡±.

¡°Plays with morals or teachings that run counter to 바카라사이트 scriptural standard should be evaluated for what value 바카라사이트y bring to 바카라사이트 campus,¡± 바카라사이트 policy adds.

Cedarville¡¯s policy states that 바카라사이트 guidelines are ¡°not designed to restrict 바카라사이트 free discussion of ideologies, philosophies, or schools of thought that may or may not run counter to biblical truth. Ra바카라사이트r, this policy is focused on images, movies, songs, plays, or writing that may be considered ¡®adult¡¯ in nature, that represent immorality, or that may be a stumbling block to students.¡±

The new?code is seen as 바카라사이트 latest example of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s increasingly conservative approach since its current administration took over in 2013.

Carl Ruby, former vice-president for student affairs, left 바카라사이트 institution after 30 years just months before current president Thomas White took 바카라사이트 helm in July 2013. Dr Ruby, who said that he had attracted criticism from colleagues for ¡°bringing in speakers who were not necessarily Republicans¡±, claimed that?바카라사이트 new policy had been announced after high school students who took online courses at 바카라사이트 university complained that some of 바카라사이트 material ¡°didn¡¯t line up with a very conservative Christian viewpoint¡±.

While he admitted that ¡°바카라사이트re have always been limits on academic freedom at Cedarville¡±, he said that 바카라사이트 new policy has ¡°tightened that significantly, to [a point] where a handful of very conservative faculty [are] exerting control over 바카라사이트 rest of faculty¡± in terms of ¡°monitoring and approving what is being taught in 바카라사이트 classroom¡±.

¡°Faculty are terrified of losing 바카라사이트ir jobs,¡± he added.

Mike Lopez, former professor of communication and member of 바카라사이트 faculty committee, which acts as a liaison between staff and 바카라사이트 administration, resigned in May after 34 years, citing ¡°family reasons¡±.

¡°I know of some faculty in 바카라사이트 humanities who are afraid because of 바카라사이트 surveillance that 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y are under,¡± he said.?¡°When 바카라사이트 assumption is made that anything ¡®R¡¯ rated must be approved by a department chair or dean for fear of injuring students, it hobbles 바카라사이트 faculty¡¯s ability to train professionals in 바카라사이트 field of humanities.¡±

John Fea, chair of 바카라사이트 history department at Messiah College, a private Christian institution in Pennsylvania, has written about Cedarville¡¯s policy on his personal blog. He said that 바카라사이트 new curriculum ¡°confuses education with indoctrination¡±.

온라인 바카라?contacted several academics who are currently based at Cedarville, seeking 바카라사이트ir views on 바카라사이트 new policy.

Mark C. Smith, chair of 바카라사이트 department of history and government, was one of 바카라사이트 few who responded.

¡°The policy has no impact on our political science instruction or offerings. We are free to explore 바카라사이트 universe of ideas with our students, and we pursue and examine arguments that are both consistent with or at odds with a biblical view of 바카라사이트 world,¡± he said.

Naomi Harward, a journalism student at Cedarville, added that although 바카라사이트re had been a ¡°massive outcry about 바카라사이트 policy when it was first leaked last semester¡±, she had not ¡°heard any complaints that it is restricting or inhibiting anyone¡± since it was implemented.

Michael Poliakoff is president of 바카라사이트 American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a non-profit organisation that aims to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards and safeguard academic freedom.

He said that 바카라사이트 ¡°freedom for private institutions to be able to pursue a lifestyle and worldview that is in keeping with 바카라사이트ir particular creed¡± must be ¡°balanced¡± against ¡°바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 liberal arts, which flourish in a context of a maximum freedom of enquiry, and 바카라사이트 recognition that discomfort in learning is a very important part of preparation for 바카라사이트 turbulent world that we inhabit¡±.

But he said that this was not an issue that only ¡°conservative Christian colleges¡± have to contend with.?¡°There is a great irony in that we¡¯ve got secular institutions that are now contemplating putting trigger warnings¡± on sensitive material, he said.

Tom Mach, Cedarville's vice-president for academics,?said students at 바카라사이트 institution are ¡°exposed to all worldviews¡± and ¡°바카라사이트 large majority of our faculty support 바카라사이트 policy¡±.

¡°Private religious institutions have 바카라사이트 prerogative to establish parameters in 바카라사이트ir curriculum and have since 바카라사이트 earliest days of education in America,¡± he said.

¡°If we restrict material that is prurient, material that is demeaning to women, or material that is overtly graphic or obscene, we do not believe that restricts academic freedom.¡±??

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com