Comments on: The God Delusion = Judas Priest = D&D = Suicide

By: J.S. Morales

J.S. Morales — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:21:01 +0000

I have to disagree with some of the sentiments expressed here. As a Christian who just graduated from SUNY Potsdam, about an hour north of JCC, I did not find it to be a friendly environment to diverse viewpoints, particularly Christian ones. In one class, the Stanley Miller experiment was brought up and the teacher apparently didn’t think it important to let us know that the experiment was discredited.
As for the comment at the end, I don’t agree with all of it. I do feel the man was pointing out to the protests against such things as Prop 8 passing. Why is it okay for them to do that but a Christian expresses their views and their labeled “homophobic” and a “bigot”?
I’m deeply saddened by Jesse’s story and I’m sure there was more involved than simply the book. However, it seems likely the book was a factor and the hostile environment of the college likely didn’t help either.
To end, I don’t want to make colleges sound terrible. I did meet some open-minded professors and some good friends who were open-minded. However, too many people confuse open-mindedness with political correctness and an orthodoxy definitely appears to exist on many campuses. What should be done? That is a tough question.

By: Joe the moralist

Joe the moralist — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:15:37 +0000

I have taken biology classes at JCC, and I have never witnessed a discussion in the classromm of the arguments in the ID/evolution debate. The definition of scientific method is taught, obviously, and requirements for formulating an hypothesis,collecting data, and moving to a theory are part of the syllabus. The emphasis is (or should be) on what distinguishes a scientific theory from speculation or “faith,” when the same rigorous testing and repeatability cannot apply. Whether or not another student’s reported challenge to read a book caused this tragedy,the educational process cannot be blamed. Exposure to differing points of view is the point of higher education; not banning discussion of them. I am saddened by this tragic event, and I wonder why the younger Kilgore couldn’t approach his father about this.

By: James

James — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:36:16 +0000

It doesn’t surprise me that a Christian parent might seek blame in an atheist book given, as you point out, the common misunderstanding of atheism and morality. Not only that, but it probably provides a means for his father to ignore or suppress other factors that were probably more directly related to his son’s suicide.