Score One For the Good Guys

Federal judge in Los Angeles issues summary judgement in a lawsuit against the University of California. The suit was filed by Calvary Chapel Christian School. They claimed that the University's rejection of their courses amounted to a violation of their students first amendment rights under the free exercise clause. Several courses were excluded such as " Christianity's Influence on America" supposedly a college prepatory U.S. history class.

For instance, a UC professor who reviewed Calvary's proposed Christianity's Influence on America class said the course used a textbook that "instructs that the Bible is the unerring source for analysis of historical events," "attributes historical events to divine providence rather than analyzing human action," and "contains inadequate treatment of several major ethnic groups, women and non-Christian religious groups."

Also rejected was a biology course. From the introduction to the textbook used in the class:

Biology for Christian Schools is a textbook for Bible-believing high-school students. Those who do not believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God will find many points in this book puzzling. This book was not written for them.

Wait the facts of biology change based on whether you are a Bible believing Christian or not? The authors of the textbook betray themselves in the very first paragraph of the introduction. If the information presented in the book were true then it would apply to everyone. More:

The people who prepared this book have tried consistently to put the Word of God first and science second. Paul exhorts Christians to live to live in such a way that "in all things [Jesus Christ] might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18). To the best of the authors' knowlege, the conclusions drawn from observable facts and presented in this book agree with scriptures. If ... at any point God's Word is not put first, the authors apologize.

Wow. Theres not much I can say to make them look anymore rediculous, so i'll let them speak for themselves.

Some of the conclusions a Christian must reach differ from those expressed by secular sources.

No. This is disgusting from a "science" book. This supposed science class runs completely in opposition to what science is supposed to be. In science you should take the facts and let them lead you to a conclusion, some Christians (i.e. intelligent design creationists) take a conclusion and try to manipulate the facts to fit their conclusion. These clowns toss the facts out completely and assert their conclusion.

The same encyclopedia article may state that the grasshopper evolved 300 million years ago. You may find a description of some insect that the grasshopper supposedly evolved from and a description of the insects that scientists say evolved from the grasshopper. You may even find a "scientific" explanation of the biblical locust (grasshopper) plague in Egypt. These statements are conclusions based on "supposed science." If the conclusions contradict the Word of God, the conclusions are wrong, no matter how many scientific facts may appear to back them.

Translation: "LALALALALA I'M NOT LISTENING LALALALALA."

Lets see what Robert Tyler, attorney for the plaintiffs, has to say.

Tyler said he fears schools will become afraid to teach from a Christian perspective.

"We're worried in the long term, Christian education is going to be continually watered down in order to satisfy the UC school system," he said.

You mean they can't lie to their children anymore? Dear god what next? Actual facts in science class?

As a student who regularly gets screwed over by the UC adminstraion (hooray for tuition hikes) I can sympathize with Mr. Tyler. Just kidding this "education" they provide is such a huge joke; I'm forced to take the side of the UC administration... I feel so dirty.

Check out missingthepoint for more detailed legal analysis.