Challenge to 'Secular Intolerance' Defends Rights of Christian Schools
by Jim Brown and Jody Brown
January 16, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A judge will soon decide whether to toss out a lawsuit that alleges the University of California system engages in viewpoint discrimination against Christian students and schools. On behalf of a Christian school in California and several student plaintiffs, the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the University of California's prohibition on high school students receiving academic credit for courses that are taught from a strictly Christian perspective. According to the lawsuit, a Christian school in Murrieta -- the Calvary Chapel Christian School -- was informed that its courses were rejected because they used textbooks printed by two conservative Christian publishers: Bob Jones University Press in South Carolina and A Beka Books in Pensacola, Florida. The UC system has asked that the suit be thrown out. (See earlier article)
According to an ACSI summary of the case, UC representatives -- when asked if their decision was prompted by poor college performance by students from religious schools -- acknowledged they had no objective evidence that such students were deficient in science upon their arrival for their first year of college. In addition, says ACSI, those same representatives indicated they had not qualms with the "material facts" found in a BJU physics text -- but that if the scripture verses preceding each chapter were removed, the text would likely be approved for the UC system's science lab course requirement.
"As the discussion continued about the biology books," says the ACSI summary, "it became evident that they were rejected because they appeared to state the perspective that the Bible is revelation and along with faith is more authorities than the observations of science, especially if there were a conflict over a 'factual scientific issue.'"
Attorney Robert Tyler, who is representing some of the student plaintiffs, contends the UC system is engaging in viewpoint discrimination. He explains his reasoning.
"The UC [system] has approved numerous other courses, including introduction to rabbinic -- or Jewish -- literature," Tyler says. "Islam and various other religions have also received credit, such as Buddhism. Yet when it comes to Christianity, the university system apparently finds it too appalling to give it credit."
The attorney says the suit aims to preserve the rights of Christian students not just in California, but across the country. "So it's an important case to help further the requirement that government cannot prevent Christian viewpoints while allowing numerous other religious viewpoints, all to the detriment of Christianity," Tyler explains.
ACSI echoes that concern, saying "secular intolerance" could spread to other institutions and other states. The educational organization fears that if this alleged viewpoint discrimination goes unchallenged, "it is only a matter of time before secular institutions in other states will join the bandwagon. It is imperative to try to keep this religious and viewpoint discrimination from spreading."
ACSI also emphasizes that its participation in the lawsuit does not constitute endorsement of specific textbooks or publishers, but that it simply seeks to defend the right of Christian schools to have the "religious and academic freedom" to chose their own coursework, and to offer their graduates an equal opportunity when they apply for admission to a college or university of their choice.
A ruling on the University of California's motion for dismissal is expected within the next two to three months. According to a report last week in USA Today, an attorney for Calvary Chapel says any decision in the case is likely to appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
