Supreme Court Rules States Need Not Offer Scholarships

[Theophylact]

to Students Majoring in Theology. A 7-2 decision, with Rehnquist writing the majority opinion (and the usual suspects in the minority).

"Training someone to lead a congregation is an essentially religious endeavor,'' Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote for the court in Washington. "That a state would deal differently with religious education for the ministry than with education for other callings'' is not evidence of "hostility toward religion,'' he said.

[M_Six]

I have to disagree with that one. The field in which one chooses to be educated should have nothing to do with eligibility for a state scholarship. What's next; no scholarships for chemistry majors because they might build a meth lab?

[Epidemic]

Wrong decision, I am not into religion buttttt! college is preparation for a future job or carreer. As such this is just a different carreer choice.

I can get training to be an activist judge but I may not be trained to become a pastor?

therefore judge is more valuable than pastor???


Separation of church and state does not mean that you may not allow someone to spend money on an institution by choice. it means that you may not support it directly or force people to go to it.

[U-96]

Is a stupid ruling. Certainly the way Theology is taught here in the UK, it's as much about history and philosophy as anything else. Not everyone that studies it automatically becomes a priest, and not everyone that studies it even has to be particularly religious.

[Theophylact]

You have to read the opinion.

First, the majority opinion didn't say that states had to deny such scholarships, only that they could; in other words, that there was a rational, nondiscriminatory reason for it.

Second, there is a distinction between a theology course and a theology major leading to a divinity degree.

Third, there is a difference between a college whose principal charge is to train people for the ministry, and a church-related college that offers a general education.

Finally, it has to be admitted that there are others out there, Eugene Volokh included, who think that Justice Scalia had the better of it in his minority opinion.

I can get training to be an activist judge but I may not be trained to become a pastor?

therefore judge is more valuable than pastor???

Epidemic, I don't know what law school you'd go to in order to get trained to be an "activist judge". And "valuable" doesn't enter into it, or you wouldn't be able to get a scholarship to study sociology.

edited to correct "Thomas" to read "Scalia"

[Epidemic]

[M_Six]

Second, there is a distinction between a theology course and a theology major leading to a divinity degree.

I still don't agree. I have a degree in Chemstry/Geology and I'm a systems administrator. One's degree does not necessarily decide one's profession. I've found theology majors and those with theology degrees to be thoughtful, intelligent, highly interesting people. And certainly not all of them are or ever were ministers. I agree that divinity schools should look to their respective churches for support, but the students themselves should not be discriminated against solely on the basis of their chosen field of study. Nor should the state be allowed such discrimination.

EDIT: I mean I still don't agree with the ruling, not the statement I quoted.

[originel]

i don't agree with the ruling being based on religion. afterall, even churches contribute to the economy and are a part of the governed society.