UC can deny religious course credit to applicants from Christian high schools
August 13, 2008 – 7:22 am by Nick
Yesterday, a federal judge ruled that the University of California can deny religious course credit. Applicants from Christian high schools will be denied credits for courses “stressing supernatural over historic or scientific explanations”.
U.S. District Judge James Otero of Los Angeles said the schools were unable to present evidence that the university was fueled by anti-religious bias when reviewing high school classes. University of California presented valid points for rejecting specific courses and texts, which failed to cover to several topics in science and history. For instance, the judge upheld the university’s decision to reject the course named Christianity’s Influence on America that evaluated all historical events and figures on their religious motivations, according to the Bible.
Last March, University of California approved several courses and materials, including “Chemistry for Christian Schools” and “Biology: God’s Living Creation,” that covered creationism and evolution in a proper manner. Here is an excerpt from “Biology: God’s Living Creation” preface: “Evolution is presented for what it is—a retreat from science. Students and teachers alike will feel more comfortable when they realize that it not biology that is in conflict with Scripture, but rather the ungodly philosophy of some biologists.”
UC representatives reiterated that it applies the same admissions standards to all students and only approves courses that prepare students for higher education.
Christian schools filed the lawsuit in 2005. They claimed religious discrimination led UC to reject any course that alluded to “God’s guidance of history, or any alternative … to evolution.”Jennifer Monk of Advocates for Faith and Freedom said, “It appears the UC is attempting to secularize private religious schools.”
A group of Christian schools has appealed the rulings.
