Cancellation of the screening of a film, "The Last Temptation of Christ," at Furman University (South Carolina), then at a public library, and the debate over granting of credit to students for participating in a related discussion, are described. Faculty response and the aftermath of the controversy are also discussed. (MSE)

Jewish history and the dynamics of anti-Semitism should be incorporated into social work curricula, and students should explore their own ethnic identities and religious backgrounds. This self-exploration enables them to be open to new information and aware of misinformation. Role playing can help students practice responses to incidents of bias.…

In "Kamehameha," the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the schools were covered by none of the exemptions permitting employment discrimination on religious grounds. The decision has the potential to cause difficulties for religious educational institutions that are not church controlled but desire to impose religious requirements…

It is argued that some church-related universities are both religious and academic communities, thus constituting protected exercises of religion. Attempts to coerce compliance with secular standards of nondiscrimination and academic freedom may violate the institution's rights to free exercise of religion. A Brigham Young University (Utah) policy…

Potential threats to academic freedom from within the institution are increasing, including faculty lawsuits over tenure and appointment decisions, research-related conflicts of interest, collective bargaining processes, and the use of academic freedom as a catch-all protest. (MSE)

Ten reasons for teaching about religion in secular higher education institutions are offered: religion motivates most killings, contributes to most healing, is globally pervasive, has a long and broad past, is hard to define, helps explain many human activities, involves many disciplines, is a dimension of pluralism, relates to practical issues,…

The Supreme Court's finding that the University of Virginia acted unconstitutionally in denying funds to students for a Christian newspaper not directly affiliated with a church raises new questions about legal issues of church-state separation and the allocation of student fees. Some legal experts feel the ruling could spell the demise of campus…

Scholarly interest in Jewish studies, discouraged during Communist rule, is experiencing a renaissance in Poland. However, because the Jewish community is largely gone from Poland, much of the research must be conducted outside the country. It is felt that earlier censorship has stimulated interest in Jewish studies. Polish scholars feel their…

Contends that religion has played a significant role in the founding and development of higher education. Reports on a study of the sociodemographic and educational background characteristics of sociologists teaching in 31 colleges belonging to the Christian College Coalition. (CFR)

To illuminate the debate between the conservative Christian movement and the public education sector, this essay chronicles the development of the Christian Right over the course of this century, identifying the real and imagined challenges it presents to educators. The strength of the conservative movement is highlighted noting its current…

Discusses court decisions on the rights of religious groups to rent public school facilities and to distribute religious literature on public school grounds. Compares decisions and reasoning in U.S. appellate courts and the Supreme Court. Predicts that the relationship between religion and public education will continue to evolve. (DK)

This article argues that the academic tradition of college faculty resembles a religion that, like many others, does not question its faith. The restructuring of many campus institutions is forcing higher education to reexamine how it does business, and like other religions being forced to adapt to change, the academy is resisting. (MSE)

Amish music has its roots in Mennonite history and music. To study a selected piece of Amish music, one should first understand the heritage of the music that demonstrates the constancy of the Amish traditions. With that in mind, a brief history of the Mennonites and Amish is offered including information about their music. The Mennonite hymn…

Support for the traditional principle of separation of church and state has eroded in recent years. Although a majority of citizens say they support church-state separation, opinion polls find they have difficulty with the issue. The report presents a summary of such church-state conflicts in 38 states. The conflicts are categorized as follows:…

Three recent federal court decisions dealt with the use of public university and public school facilities by student groups for religious activities. In "Widmar v. Vincent," the United States Supreme Court decided that the University of Missouri at Kansas City was not justified in its denial of permission to a registered student…