BB FANS

Friday, 15 April, 2005, 20:16 UK .BBC Scotland

A students' association has called for the Bible to be removed from more than 2,000 university rooms because it could offend non-Christians.
Stirling University Students' Association (SUSA) wants the Gideon's Bibles taken out of all student rooms.

Students said providing the Bible in all university accommodation was "presumptuous" and offensive to different religions on the campus.

The university would not comment until SUSA submits its request next month.

A motion to have the Bibles removed was passed by 15-1 at a recent student council meeting. Seven members abstained. The council said representing one faith was not in the spirit of equality and cited the Scottish Executive's One Scotland Many Cultures campaign.

SUSA president Al Wilson said: "The one thing that students have brought up is the fact that they do have Gideon's Bibles in their rooms.

"They felt that this was not really fair on those students who practice other faiths.

"And it was promoting one faith over others.

"So we are trying to encourage the university to still retain the Bibles within the buildings themselves but not necessarily in the rooms."

SUSA wants other faith texts provided to create a campus of "great diversity".

A former chaplain at the university said it was wrong to remove a book from a bedroom in a place of learning.

The Reverend John Munro, of Kinross Parish Church, said: "I think there is an agenda here, seemingly politically correct. There is actually a hostility towards faith by those who have none.

"This is repeating the worst of our errors, where the Christian faith used to have an intolerant attitude towards people of no faith."

It's not like one is forced to read the Bible whilst in the hotel or anything.

If they ban Bibles, they should ban magazines in shops - some of them offend me - I mean, having to see Posh and Britney on the covers can be positively upsetting.

BLAAAAH, all it is, is one dull student who can't get laid trying to get his name in the papers, ignore him, coz thats what he doesn't want

thats right!!!! bloody tax-dodgers
....get a bath, cut your hair and stop listening to The Levellers.

Bloody PC rubish.


They get given something free yet they still moan about it.


lets solve the problem by not giving them rooms at all, heres a novel concept, why dont they stay at home and attend the university in their own areas

OI! Nothing wrong with tax dodging for a few years

yes, lets ban it all, starting with people
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Calrissian: Wondering.....

hold on a sec, why should a Bible appear in student rooms? Why should they appear in hotel rooms? Not everyone is religious, even, woah, can you believe, some white, British people. It's not that it's offensive to anyone, why should material from ANY religion appear? Britain is a secular country, and that means any belief (or even non-belief) in any faith is acceptable. Better to have nothing imho. It's not being PC - it's applying the same rule for everyone (ie. using common sense).

I hope that was meant to be tongue-in-cheek Adrian! I was a student (twice) and if I hadn't studied I wouldn't be paying the huge tax bill that I now have. I agree though, some people do seem to want to be students for life, without putting anything back.

What could I say - we don't have Bibles in university rooms but we do have them in hotel rooms (in Finnish). What kind of effect would it make if instead of Bibles there would be Koran's of some other Religious Literature? Or would the Literature in Hotel rooms be ordered from reception when you book yourself a room?

Seriously, I don't get this new 'craze' to ban.

If some religious cult/nut/devotee wishes to leave their 'good book' around, for anyone to read - whether that is on a park bench, a hotel, or a student room, what is wrong with that?

Freedom of expression, freedom of choice, is that not a good thing?

I guess the thought police in Scotland are getting more active again.
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Calrissian: Currently being monitored by various groups

ps. Echelon, cobra, norad, rapture, 2012

(nothing like a few good key words to 'flag up' on the main security services scanners)

Yep - nobody forces people to read the books - no matter were they are.

All a bit bizarre if you ask me I can't say I've ever been offended by a bible in a hotel room (for example)
I simply leave it where it is, really I cannot see the harm, it's not as if there is a sign on the door demanding you read it. All this banning 'in case' it offends someone is getting really pathetic now.

One hotel I stayed in during a visit to the US needed a bible.....to prop up the bedside cabinet

I preciate other people thoughts but I feel comfortable when I know that Bibles exists in most Hotel Rooms when I'm travelling. But anybody doesn't say that you'll have to read It if you don't want to.