Tell Us Your Inspirational Story, But Leave The J-Word Out Of It

At North Carolina State University, a reformed criminal came to speak at a social deviance class to talk about his past and how religion, specifically Jesus, helped him reform himself. The purpose for having him speak at the class was to have an actual person who exhibited the behavior the class was studying to speak with them. He was a repeat thief, who would, in his words, "hit several houses right beside each other, just bam, bam, bam." His life was in shambles, according to him, then one day he came to his mother's house and was greeted by several police. He spent a fair amount of time in jail, and a lot happened.

He claims he found all the answers he was searching for in Jesus Christ -- this was, according to Kinlaw (the ex-con), the power that resuscitated him. That was Kinlaw's story.

After the first time he presented his story, the professor of the class hurridly came to him and explained that there were people of different faiths in his class, so he didn't want Kinlaw to say Jesus -- it might offend someone (you know, that someone was able to completely turn their lives around is a good thing, but if the change involved Christ, don't tell us how you did it).

The class is on social deviance. They learn about diviant social behavior, and they learn about reformation of such behavior. However, this teacher decided that one form of reformation that has been shown to work, should not be mentioned at all.

The fact is: Kinlaw's religious experience is a factor in his changed life.

He was telling his story, as he was asked by the professor to do. The class wanted to know what he was like and what caused him to change. However, this professor has decided that his students will not be permitted to learn from an individual one effective way to change. Why? Because the professor was worried that someone might disagree. Imagine, if you will, that this was an individual who had converted to Islam in jail and turned his life around and the professor said the same thing to him. You'd be hearing about it on the news, not through a post here in the Current Events forum of Above Top Secret.

You would think, and hope, that the U.S., with its many peoples, cultures etc. all living and working together that one could speak freely of their faith, so long as they did not try to force that faith on someone else. But unfortunately, it is not so. Quite sad, indeed.

...as long as it isn't Christianity, or as long as it doesn't mention the "J-word". Go figure...

I'm sure if he had converted to Islam and it helped him turn around his life, it'd be fine to talk about it...in fact the teacher might make the students say "peace be upon him" everytime Mohammed was mentioned. :shk:

After the first time he presented his story, the professor of the class hurridly came to him and explained that there were people of different faiths in his class

PC has gone nuts He should be able use the name Jesus without having to worry about upseting a minorty. If someone wants to they can stand naked in times square and yak on about jesus and how the earth is 6000 years old despite the facts.

Remember people have the right to speake but you dont have to listen

There may be more to this than meets the eye. I'd like to see the link.

Of course it's possible the professor invited the guy to talk about religion changing his life but got nervous when he spoke specifically of Jesus, but that seems a little too "made for outrage" Internet special.

If the professor asked the con to speak on his reform, his past, whatever though... but instead got a 60 minute sermon on the power of Jesus for the captive NC State students, I can see why he felt "con'ned."

Here's a link to the story:

technicianonline.com...

It's from the student newspaper, but access is free without a subscription. Enjoy!