By Rusty Pugh
May 10, 2002

(AgapePress) - A Christian college in Virginia has been denied accreditation from the governing board for liberal arts schools because it teaches creationism.

Patrick Henry College requires its faculty to adhere to a statement of biblical worldview. Based on this, and specifically the college's teaching of creationism, the American Academy of Liberal Education has denied the school's accreditation. Patrick Henry President Mike Farris says the Academy is guilty of religious discrimination.

"There's no question about it," Farris says. "In a traditional, free-speech orientation, this is called discrimination on the basis of viewpoint and ideology -- and it would be considered a violation of the freedom of speech. Our freedom of speech is being violated in any other forum, and we hope that that will be the final outcome in this forum."

Farris says the AALE did not like what was being taught, even though Patrick Henry met all the criteria for accreditation. He adds that Patrick Henry students are taught about evolution -- but that it is wrong, and creationism is true, as a matter of science and faith. "Our students will know plenty about the evolutionist theory," he says. "They'll know why evolution is not good science -- and that, apparently, offends the people that believe that evolution is the only way to think."

According to Farris, the school has appealed the Academy's decision. "They want to force us to teach what they want us to teach. They've denied our freedom of belief," he says. "In fact, it's not at all about what our students know -- but it's about what our faculty and students believe that's gotten us in trouble."

Farris says this is the basis for their appeal of the AALE denial.

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