Issues with College Textbooks

[Jenn4God]

I was just wondering if anyone else is having any problems with their textbooks. I'm taking Comp1 and our textbook is full of anti-Christian writing. One story even went so far as to say their was no Adam and Eve and that God doesn't exist. I just don't see why that is allowed when there is supposed to be separation of church and state.

 

[progressivegal]

I was just wondering if anyone else is having any problems with their textbooks. I'm taking Comp1 and our textbook is full of anti-Christian writing. One story even went so far as to say their was no Adam and Eve and that God doesn't exist. I just don't see why that is allowed when there is supposed to be separation of church and state.

is comp101 composition or computers?
If it's composition and it's an essay someone wrote than I don't see the problem, it's literature. Lots of times religious literature is read in English Classes as well and (it's fine as long as it's taught as literature and not fact). I don't think it violates church and state. Many of the writings I remember reading in high school English where religious in nature or had certain religious themes, but we were not reading them to learn about religion, we were writing them to learn about literature.
You don't have to like it or agree with it the composition, that's not the point. When you right one if you want to write a pro-religious essay you should be able to do that.
Religious beliefs are personal, and a professor has no right to attempt to factually prove or disprove a religion or to preach for or against certain religions. However you can read and analyze writings that are religious in nature or critical of religion for their literary and historical value.
If it's computers 101 your taking though, that's just weird.

 

[Jenn4God]

It's composition but the entire book is like that. I wouldn't mind because like you said, it's literature. but then when it comes time to discuss our opinions on it and talk about what the author was trying to say and everything we're supposed to keep religion out of it. That doesn't make sense to me. Oh well, I guess I should just be thankful it's only one semester and it's almost over.

 

[progressivegal]

It's composition but the entire book is like that. I wouldn't mind because like you said, it's literature. but then when it comes time to discuss our opinions on it and talk about what the author was trying to say and everything we're supposed to keep religion out of it. That doesn't make sense to me. Oh well, I guess I should just be thankful it's only one semester and it's almost over.

What book is it if you don't mind me asking, if all of the essays are about one thing it doesn't sound like an actual textbook.

 

[Jenn4God]

It's called "writing on the River" It was written by the English staff at my college especially for our college.

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Perhaps they chose those topics to sturr emotion and promote discussion in the class. Just like they may have chosen to write papers supporting one side of abortion.

As others said, it is certainly no violation of church and state. The state university I attended offered a "religious studies" major. I took a couple of their classes and was extremely fascinating. One had to do with the texts of many different religions.

This has to be one of the most misunderstood concepts in education. When people talk about seperation of church and state it doesn't mean that religion instantly becomes a four-letter-word. Someone says the name Jesus Christ and they're instantly thrown out of school. As Progressivegal wrote, it only becomes a problem when the professor is attempting to convert you/your class saying one is better than the other.

 

[Jenn4God]

That's just the problem, there are all these religious topics but yet our adjunct won't let us get into it. He does all he can to avoid it and asks off the wall questions for discussions. Despite all that I make every effort I can to include it in all of my essays. I still like the class, I was just wondering about the book is all. In fact, my adjunct has even told me I am the best student in class and he also said even if I only write B papers all semester he will still give me an A because I'm the only one who really speaks up during discussion and because my team always wins our debates.

 

[NDNgirl4ever]

The reason that he probably won't let you get into a discussion on religion is because discussions like that in classrooms can easily turn into verbal fights. If he doesn't maintain class disipline, he gets in trouble. He probably just wants the class to run smoothly.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Not in that sense, I think there is freedom when people write. I may not like it, but eh, i'm not in school to like it. My main problem with textbooks is that they get ruined in my bookbag and I can't sell em back sometimes.. >_>

 

[Antigone]

That's just the problem, there are all these religious topics but yet our adjunct won't let us get into it. He does all he can to avoid it and asks off the wall questions for discussions.

That is a little weird...Why would you take such a controversial and biased book, and then not allow debate about it? I'm all for separating religious and non-religious subjects, but this sounds kind of biased... As if you're only supposed to open your mouth if you agree.

I mean, when I took contemporary history 101 at university our textbook was written by Eric Hobsbawn, whose political preferences are Marxist (something which he doesn't try to hide). No compensation was made with more right-wing authors, which I didn't like (even though I'm a die-hard lefty myself ). But we were allowed to debate the book's bias at any time...There was one student (politically speaking far-right wing) and they let him air his beliefs to (although he lost to the rest of the class in debates...).

Have you tried asking your teachers why you're not allowed to debate the subject?