The University of Arizona (photo courtesy of Wikicommons Images, Baah Thomas, CC BY 4.0)Just weeks after being served with a lawsuit in the controversial firing of a Christian professor, the University of Arizona has once again receive a complaint, this time for requiring students to participate in witchcraft.
According to Liberty Counsel, the Christian legal organization that filed both complaints, a young Christian student known only as “Joshua” found himself in a class where he had to participate in witchcraft in order to get a passing grade.
“In one of his classes, a professor ordered Joshua and his fellow students to participate in Japanese spiritism — which many Christians consider witchcraft,” explains Matt Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.
“Joshua was ordered to write a phrase and place it under a rock, then ‘focus his energy’ on the phrase and the rock to supposedly achieve a desired outcome. Failure to complete the assignment would result in a failing grade.”
As a Bible-believing Christian, Joshua refused to participate in an act that is forbidden in Scripture in various places.
“Throughout the Bible, believers are warned that spiritism and witchcraft are a form of idolatry, placing ‘self’ above God, and/or seeking counterfeit spiritual power. Such works are born of Satan and demonic powers. Therefore, participating in these occult practices is participating in the fallen angels’ rebellion against God,” Staver writes.
These prohibitions against witchcraft and various forms of sorcery are found in Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:26-31, Galations 5:19-21, and Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
In addition, the Catechism condemns all practices of magic or sorcery, “by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others” (No. 2117).
Sadly, it’s not the first time this university has been caught punishing Christians for their beliefs. A lawsuit was filed two weeks ago against the university for terminating the contract of Daniel Grossenbach, an adjunct ethics instructor due to his parental rights advocacy in his children’s school district. Apparently, the university was pressured to terminate his contract after receiving anonymous complaint that accused him of leading an "anti-gay hate group," posting anti-LGBTQ content on social media and spreading "misinformation" about the school district's policies.
As a result, Grossenbach not only lost his job, but irreparable harm has been done to his reputation and has ended his pursuit of a doctorate degree.
Liberty Counsel is representing both Joshua and Grossenbach.
“Religious freedom allows University of Arizona administration officials, regents, and professors to believe and practice whatever form of belief system they embrace. However, they are not allowed to force others to participate in their activities — which is exactly what U of AZ is doing to this student,” Staver writes. “Nor are they allowed to fire employees, like Professor Grossenbach, for expressing personal religious beliefs off campus outside of his professorial duties.”
He adds: “Please pray for sweeping revival in our land.”
Amen!
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