Teacher: College fired me for Bible lesson

RED OAK, Iowa, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- An Iowa teacher says he was fired by a community college for telling students that they should not take the Bible as literal truth.

Steve Bitterman said that Southwestern Community College dismissed him Thursday, two days after some students complained about his remarks, The Des Register reported.

"I'm just a little bit shocked myself that a college in good standing would back up students who insist that people who have been through college and have a master's degree, a couple actually, have to teach that there were such things as talking snakes or lose their job," Bitterman said.

Southwestern President Barbara Crittenden said that the school could not comment on personnel matters. But she denied that Bitterman’s free speech rights had been violated.

Bitterman taught a Western Civilization course at the Red Oak campus that was telecast to students at the Osceola campus. He said that some Osceola students apparently thought he was denying their religious beliefs.