Edinburgh University Considering Banning Bibles from Residence Halls

October 21, 2005

Source: The Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2703-1835674,00.html

On October 21, 2005 The Times reported, "Edinburgh University is set to ban Bibles from its student halls of residence amid concern that the Holy Book is 'discriminatory' and makes students of other faiths feel unwelcome. The move is the result of protests from the students’ association and is being considered in an effort to pursue a policy of 'evenly supporting all faiths', a university spokesman said yesterday. A Gideon Bible is traditionally placed in every new student’s room at the start of the academic year and there are currently around 2,000 Bibles in the Pollock Halls campus on the edge of Holyrood Park. Their distribution is now seen as inappropriate and potentially offensive to non-Christians. The student body is drawn from 120 countries and represents a broad spectrum of faiths, it is argued. Ruth Cameron, president of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association, said yesterday that it was important that students from different cultures were made to feel welcome. 'The student association strongly believes in the importance of ensuring that students of all faiths feel at home in their university accommodation,' she said. 'We simply don’t want to be seen promoting one religion over another. This is not about attacking Christianity. It is about respecting diversity.'"