Maybe a Christian can help me with this problem . . .?

Question

I teach college English. In my classes, my students are supposed to write argumentative essays. Because this is a public institution, the use of any sacred text for issues that are not exclusively tied to specific religions is disallowed. Instead, we encourage students to argue their points without circular reasoning (a logical fallacy). (______ exists because _______ said so.)

I have students who repeatedly want to argue international issues like marriage, morality, homosexuality, etc. and support their arguments with sacred texts, often, the Bible. I reinforce to these students that their issues often affect everyone on the planet, and not everyone on the planet is Christian. But they do it anyway, and they end up getting lower grades because they did not meet the logic portion of the essay. Sometimes, they are smug about it.

I'm desperate to understand how to approach these students without making them feel like they are "victims to a liberal education system."

Ideas?

Sigh.

Thanks for being useless, idahomike2.

Seriously, if that's how you feel. Elaborate on it.

Ugh, stop it with the "Christians this" and "liberals that." I'm asking a real question to help real people.

Yeah, imagine that. An liberal agnostic trying to help Christians. Shock and awe. Shock and awe.

Some of you aren't reading the entire question, and/or you are making assumptions.

I'm talking international issues. Marriage cannot be boiled down to what it says exclusively in the Qur'an. It is an international issue. Now, if they want to argue about marriages among Muslims, use the Qur'an! They'd be stupid not to.

I also do not allow atheists or agnostics to use websites that do not respect other religions (as there is no central text).

How do you know that because I don't believe in it, I don't respect it. That's actually quite the contrary.

It would be no different if an atheist said, "There is no God because Darwin (or whoever) said so." That wouldn't fly with me either.

Yeah, I am a liberal. Doesn't mean I don't know how to respect other opinions.

Ugh. I should have known better than to ask this question here.

You know what? Forget it. I'll ask my Baptist grandmother and mother for advice.

You so-called "Christians" with your hatefulness should go back to your churches and ask for forgiveness. I was raised by Christians. I know one who truly believes when I see it. Half of you are the reason I'm NOT Christian.

Thanks for those who really tried to help. I'll take your suggestions including the ones that showed me I was failing at fully teaching logic and the reasoning behind the decision to disallow certain texts for international issues. I appreciate your respectful nature.

To the rest of you, shove off.

Answer 1

Grit, with all respect to you. Forget about the rules to public institution. The simple fact that you reinforce these students concering these issues and they do it anyway should be a sign to you. These kids have something to say concerning truth. When you know you are right without a doubt, and someone challenges you, it can get you quite upset. Let these young kids give their sacred views and international issues with freedom and try to listen with your heart and not your mind. Don't give them lower grades because they did not meet the logic portion. Maybe they did and the knowledge has not been revealed to you yet. Try again.

Answer 2

Keep giving them bad grades. There is a time and place for religion, and when a teacher explicitly asks that students avoid using religious texts as authoritative sources, then they should be graded accordingly. Religion is an individual matter and should remain that way. I think you need to just emphasize the consequences of using circular reason, give examples, and let them know your hands are tied; it has nothing to do with the disbelief or support of any religion. Additionally, there are plenty of other sources they could use to make their arguments.

Lastly, I would have to agree the higher education system is very slanted to the left, but that is not to say you are one of those professors. Also, and it's unfortunate, many professors are smug and elitest and refuse to see an argument of a students for what it is.

I would say be more strict up front, be clear on the rules and more up front on the consequences.

(Christianity can be logically understood)

Answer 3

Tell them that their behavior is a threat to Christianity because the faith of Jesus Christ is creative and would be anything it wants. For Christian students to use the Bible as a means to confirm their views is against Christiantiy and a betrayl of God Himself. Since a true Christian would be compelled to read books that are non-Christian, I would believe your renegade Christian students to be cheating since only a priest or Christain minister would preach from the Bible. They are not victims of a liberal education system. They are masters of a twisted shceme to destroy the world. They are flirting with te Raven. They will stop at nothing to promote their views, and as you stated, they will affect everyone on this plaent. Since every Christian has his/her opposing viewpoints, I will tell the dean of your college to have these students expelled and committed to an asylum. They are extremely dangerous and must not be confronted. What they are doing can cause more harm than good.

Answer 4

You are asking students to argue issues of morality and their morals are often hugely influenced by the Bible. So "logically" they use their system of beliefs (which they hold to be just as true as 1+1=2) to write their papers. These students are victims of a liberal education system that forces them to take tests and give answers contrary to their beliefs (ie evolution instead of creation when no one knows the scientific orgins of life) You cannot stomp all over everyone someone believes and then try and make it seem like you aren't.

Answer 5

This is a hard question to answer because schools don't want any kind of religion in the classroom. But as a Christian, I would say this, encourage your students to write an essay on the topic of their choice. If it's a compelling paper it will get a good grade. Just because the school won't let them express their faith shouldn't discourage them to write a paper.

Answer 6

If you would accept Shakespeare's argument, or Dr. Spock's or Newton's laws of physics, why couldn't you allow an argument from the scriptures.

Your student's are victims of liberal education if they are marked down because of their beliefs. If they take the time to research and come up with a good argument, not just quoting of the Bible as this is usually done out of context anyway, but many of the worlds intellectuals refer to the scriptures for many arguments.

Maybe it would help if you looked at the bible not as sacred text, for I don't believe it to be so, or that such a thing exists unless one can proove that Jesus wrote a certain text, then I would consider it sacred. But look at the bible as a handbook to living life and how to reap the most from it. It is basically that, a guide of morals and values set out by man, some say god inspired and I believe it to be so, for a long life filled with love and prosperity if one adhere's to its teachings.

May God forgive us for stopping our children from pounding the wisdom within the works of the Bible. Peace be with you

Answer 7

geography: ezekiel 5:5 states that jerusalem is on the centre of the earth. so the two the earth is planar (flat) and brisbane and moscow are very close to to the place the earth ends (and you will drop good over the area in case you capture the orient show) otherwise the earth is around and jerusalem exists someplace deep interior the middle (a protestant actual tried to tell me this as quickly as). anthropology: after the flood the earth grew to become into repeopled with the help of noah's 3 sons japhet (europeans), cham (africans), and shem (semites). so no person lives in china: it quite is empty. biology: if wallabies survived the large flood they could desire to have been on the ark. they might have necessary to holiday all the way from southern australia to the mediterranean to get there. they might have necessary to hold eucalyptus timber on their backs (when you consider that eucalyptus leaves are all they devour). (there is the comparable migration undertaking with sloths: yet sloths are such speedy movers it could have been much less of a undertaking).

Answer 8

Just tell them plain and simple that they are not allowed to use the Bible or any other religious document as sources. BTW, are they required to have a bibliography? Maybe you could also make them write a bibliography, having them list sources for their arguments and reasoning.

I also hope you have a time alotted for these kids to have peer reviews before they turn in their papers.

Here's another idea: Limit the kids topics to a list they vote on or you make up yourself. Good Luck!!

Answer 9

Tell them that you understand that they hold their beliefs in life, and that you respect that and don't want to attack them. You just want to have them defend their arguments without using religious terms. Possibly have them try thinking "What is god's logic in opposing this?"

At the same time, Christians hold the bible as the sole guide in their life, so you need to be sure that you aren't singling them out in front of an entire class, as this may be interpreted differently than i think you intend.

Answer 10

This is illegal. Even if you are a public institution, you are not allowed to disallow sacred texts if they come from the student. Freedom of religion and freedom of speech gives them the right to use these texts. The problem here is you. You do not believe in these texts, so to you they are illogical. To a believer, it is illogical to not believe in their sacred texts. I honestly would encourage any of your students, who receive a lower grade because of your bias, to file a lawsuit against you and the institution. They are in fact, "victims to a liberal education system". Fifty years ago, their use of the texts would not have even raised an eyebrow. What has changed, except the liberalization of education?