The idea or Mr or, I suspect, Dr Withheld that the university is devoted to "best practise and educational excellence" is fine for a washing machine company, but not for Oxford. There can be and often is a tension between the needs of learning and those of the undergraduate. In which case the it is the duty of the univerisity to promote learning, at the cost of rendering the students unfit for useful employment.

Thus at Keble there was steady trickle of people from subjects like metallurgy, offering lurative careers, to theology. No one in Dr Rowell's (a Keble theologian when I was there, also a Times columnist) memory had ever moved the other way, from theology to another subject.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

I was the JCR President of Regent's Park College whilst reading for a Theology degree. Much of my teaching took place at other colleges, but the teaching I received at Regent's was just as good. Although Regent's is a Baptist Seminary, from an undergraduate perspective that function is a secondary one. Essentially, in my time at least, Regent's is a scale bound Oxford college which offers the same opportunities as any other. After all, Regent's students were represented in various university-wide organisations such as OUSU, the Oxford Union, the University Orchestra, various sporting teams, and so on. Yes, there is a smaller student body but this has its advantages. If the future of Oxford's PPHs is under threat, then perhaps Regent's will have to follow the example of Mansfield College, which used to be a PPH, and change its status within the university.

Mark Cooper, Manchester, UK

There seems to be an abundance of clever people getting the wrong end of the stick here. The criticism is not that the schools teach evangelical religion, but that they teach it at the cost of a fully rounded education. Schools have a responsibility to open doors for pupils, not close them, bolt them and add a few stout padlocks.

As a Christian parent of children who may or may not share my faith when they are old enough to come to a conclusion, I would certainly hope that any college I packed them off to would teach them about the world as it is, and allow open discussion of all the alternatives, letting them come to their own conclusion, rather than force-feeding them bronze-age tribal myth as fact, even where it flatly contradicts reality. That's what I was granted, and it turns out having all the facts and a facility to reason doesn't rob one of one's faith.

Colin Jackson, Oxford,

Education should be the acquisition of verifiable knowledge, based on empirical evidence, not the indoctrination of faith based dogma.

Charlou, Whyalla, Australia

I am an ex Wycliffe Hall man, who has been in full time employment for three years and I refute any claim that infers that Wycliffe was not a suitable place for an undergraduate. Wycliffe provides high quality, thoughtful academic theology that requires rigorous critical examinations of all theological traditions, including conservative theology. My time there was valuable in having to think through issues that otherwise would not have been on my horizon and in fact, facing them then, has prepared me for the professional world in a more through way than most undergraduate educations.

Let us not forget that a true Liberal, would be more than happy for each man to think what he wants and thus why do these ‘liberals’ want to stop Wycliffe from standing up for Orthodox Christian values, values that have stood the test of time for centuries and only in our post-modern relativistic culture do they strike against our socially conditioned conscientious.

Keep going Wycliffe!

Sam, Surrey,

Reading the views of Rupert astounds me. While he is correct that I have not studied theology I am an educated man who specialised (and now practise) in the study of evidence - the law.

The point Rupert misses (probably on purpose) is that the study of a non-existent thing has no possible merit. The techniques for teaching it are no doubt excellent, but the subject itself is nonsense. You don't have to actually study a degree on fairy wings to know that it is rubbish before you start.

Many theologans purposely confuse the real merit of Religious History and Religion itself. The first is proper study of history. The second is teaching a fairy story.

What possible benefit could a degree on the subject of the TARDIS like qualities of Santa's sleigh have? None at all. Yet there is exactly the same quantity and quality of evidence for the belief in the supernatural, including God.

Paul Williams, Northampton, UK

"all seven private halls are to have their licences reviewed if they are “shown to be departing from the values of a liberal education.”

Oh really? So if St. Benet's teaches, as it must, Catholic teaching on sexual issues, then will it lose its licence?

Outrageous, but not surprising in the morally adrift, politically correct, militantly secularistic Britain of today.

Martin, Hereford, England

Meic Pearse: "Earlier this year, we saw Acts of Parliament passed which can close down Christian or religious businesses which try to operate along moral guidelines, and church adoption agencies which won't hand over babies to gay couples". That's along the moral guidelines of *their* religions, and adoption agencies that operate on behalf of the State.

Liberalism aims to promote overall freedom whilst protecting individual rights. The religious have the freedom to manifest their religions, but within the bounds of living within a plural and diverse society. There is no irony, just a misunderstanding of liberalism on your part.

David Jones, Loughborough, UK

It might help if Sir Colin Lucas knew what the term "liberal" meant. The "liberal arts" are not subjects that appeal to left wing trendies, but disciplines which were not useful, and therefore not taught in the Ancient world to slaves.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

I honestly can't see how any sort of theological school could be suitable for anyone or anything.

Mysturji, UK,

The teaching is either of what the Bible says or it is not. If it is not then the teaching is nor Christian. The use of the word fundamental in this context is totally out of place - and uninformative.

If what the review is requiring is adopted then Oxford should perhaps not teach Christianity - notrDawkinism.

Geoffrey Care, Bressay, Shetland

I took my Theology BA at Wycliffe Hall. After several years working in London I am now writing a PhD at Cambridge University.

Wycliffe provided an excellent place for my initial foray into tertiary education.

It is a sad state of affairs to see how eager some are to attack it. Atheists, political liberals and agnostics should be defending places like Wycliffe - on the basis of freedom of thought, freedom of religion and freedom of speech. It may not be to everybody's taste - nobody's beliefs are.

Peter Sanlon, Cambridge,

I'm not sure the commentators on this article would be so outraged if the doctrine taught belonged to another religion. Hands up those who want to see Muslin colleges at oxford? The point of the review is that learning should be about gaining experience from a wide range of sources, without which one cannot be considered to have a rounded education.

Gan, Reading,

Universities which should be about critical thinking and the study of a universal range of ideas - not about blinkered fundamentalism.

Chris Newell, Surrey,

Actually, according to the Norrington Table for 2007, Wycliffe is beaten by 22 colleges, even though Wycliffe is the best performing PPH. Last year it was beaten by 27 colleges, and the year before that by 29 colleges.

When the standard of the Theology course is assessed, it is done on a university wide basis, taking account of all colleges and PPHs as well as the central facilities provided by the University. The relative strength of Oxford for Theology is not necessarily down to the PPHs.

Michael, Wiltshire,

This is illogical, destructive and essentially the work of the devil. Suggest all Christians reading this should pray about fervently, then sit back and enjoy the results!!

eve hunter-scott, Edinburgh, Scotland

I can't understand why they don't sack Dr Dawkins instead. After all he is supposed to be employed to promote science but just spends his energy on bar-room philosphy mocking God. Meanwhie the evangelical colleges flourish and rid themselves of liberalism which is no Chrisianity at all and fewer people want to study the all important sciences. Oxford needs a Prof who will actually promote science rather than atheism.

Rev Peter Ratcliff, Wimbledon, UK

Theology isn't really an academic subject at all. Its basically opinions about literature about something made up. Any consideration of the Bible being anything other than a book takes it into the realms of mumbo-jumbo.

As for Turnbull, he sums up everything wrong with religion. I'm sure wycliffe could manage 'on their own', with the status of an American degree mill teaching made-up nonsense.

Mike Homfray, Liverpool,

I find this very funny indeed. As far as I remember I've only met one member of St Stephen's House who's not gay.

David, Oxford, UK

'It is an indication that the atheistic creed, preached by dons such as Richard Dawkins, is in the ascendancy.' This says a lot more about Ruth Gledhill and John O'Leary and their knowledge of theology than it does about Oxford.
What Dawkins is attacking is the notion of a supernatural, omnipotent, omniscient Designer God who works miracles and saves your grandmother and not mine. Dawkins is probably right in saying this is the God most Christians have believed in and still do.

But since the rise of the modern science belief in such interventionist miracles has withered away among scientists because science would be impossible if water bolied at one temperature on a particular Thursday because God felt like it. It doesn't mean belief in God is impossible; just not that sort of God. Reputable theologians at Oxford and elsewhere recognize that.

Einstein was emphatically not an atheist but told Leo Szilard that if he asked God 'for some [personal] benefit you are a religious man.'

Patrick , London, UK

Meic Pearse, Houghton College NY, U.S.A wrote: "Welcome to intolerant 21st-century Britain".

Now, quite apart from the strangeness of someone in a different country writing such words, it's hilarious reading comments whinging about not being able to discriminate on religious grounds anymore – at the same time as complaining about discimination on religious grounds. And what an added irony, coming as it does from a poster from a country that remains, in pplaces at least, fundamentalist, and where vast numbers of supposedly intelligent people actually believe literally in the Creation myth.

Meic, this (if anything comes of it) is not discimination – no more so than the decision of the Thatcher government in the 1980s to stop grants for courses such as theatre were disciminatory. Cracker and cultural vandalism perhaps, but not disciminatory.

A Kendal, London, England

I support Dr. Turnbull at Wycliffe and the teaching of the Bible rather than the very confused thinking represented in the 'liberal' wing of theology. Surely it is more important to understand what God says to us in the scriptures than what men say.

Gavin Lewis Currie, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, UK

How long, I wonder, will Oxford University's motto, 'Dominus Illuminatio Mea' (the Lord is my light), survive? Does this ancient maxim sufficiently reflect Oxford's aspirations to "a liberal education"? Would, perhaps, 'God is dead' encapsulate an academic ethos that is more progressive and liberated? I think not.

Dr Jonathan L Mobey, Oxford, UK

It is amazing that in this day & age they still have theology courses at any university, let alone Oxford! Perhaps they should widen the scope & offer degrees in tarot card interpretation, astrology, and the reading of chicken entrails?
It is long overdue that any & all such subjects were simply offered as a component in historical & literary studies, simply as a factual anthropological/sociological appraisal of our past culture.
I hope Oxford & other universities that offer theology or religious studies as seperate disciplines very quickly accept that they bring shame & disrepute to their establishments, and close them down.

Sam Nejad, Newcastle,

The idea behind the review is to focus on the needs of Oxford students within the context of what might be called a 'traditional' Oxford education, To consider whether the work of all the halls has a limiting or broadening impact on a students education is an endeavour of high responsibility and is not made against a background of personal, or institution, religious or non-religious dogma. Oxford University has no more an 'atheist creed' than it has a Christian, Baptist or Catholic creed, nor should it – the creed of Oxford begins and ends with best practice and educational excellence.

Name Witheld, Oxford, UK

Do the PPHs teach in a manner that encourages questioning & reaching thoughful decisions? Do they serve the purpose of a University which is to promote such thinking? Theology is ideal for study -it embraces both arts & sciences. Students need grounding in both, & ability to construct arguments & examine theories using that knowledge. Paul Williams knows nothing about Theology or he would not be so dismissive.The issue then is not whether fundamentalist views are taught but whether students are encouraged to look at other views too. Wycliffe causes concern because it appears only one view is acceptable. Fundamentalists get theology degrees if they show academic grounding - and they do in many colleges.But they have to show they understand other views & explain why they believe them wrong - and "well the Bible does not say that, so its wrong" is not an argument for a univesity. It may be for a Bible college - perhaps Wycliffe should simply reclassify itself. It must be open - or close!

Ken, London,

It seems a pity that there is an unwillingness to accept coexistence of a range of views and that those who currently have the upper hand wish to crush the others. That seems inimical to "a liberal education". Is there to be no choice for prospective students?

However there should be pressure exerted to open the teaching of theology to challenge - that the particular viewpoints should be justified AS IF for a critical and philosophically literate audience not simply elaborated for an audience of the faithful. It means coming out of those comfort zones but the gains would be in rigour, respect and a better preparation for the outside world. I once sat in on an Oxford theology lecture and was struck by those failings. I'm not suggesting having Dawkins ever present - that would be destructive but teaching should be a preparation for meeting him and his like.

Bob T, London, UK

Terry Daly, London, UK has posted the most puzzling response I could ever imagine.
What is this "democratic majority of Christians"? The numbers that attend a Christian church in this country do not make any kind of majority. "A democratic majority of Christians"? Where? when church numbers are so low?
'Dictatorial, racist, sexist ideology ' - Nothing I recognise there, what is this 'liberalism'?
The college is under criticism for not being “a suitable educational environment for the full intellectual development ". I personally, do not see how theology - which is a inward looking, navel gazing, parochial preoccupation as anyone could imagine, could prepare intelligent school leavers for the 21st century.

C. James, Preston,

Excellent news! Incidently, atheism is not a creed. It is a logical reaction to the stultifying stupidity of religions.

Andrew, Scalloway,

It is important to remember that in modern, "liberal" Britain, the only religion or culture that are subject to full and free criticism are the traditional British ones.

Nick, Rotherham, UK

If a subject is going to be taught on something with no evidence (ie. Christian Theology), why shouldn't a subject be taught on all things that can be postulated without a need for evidence? Why not have a subject on the flying spaghetti monster?

Teaching people about things that have no evidence is just ridiculous.

"God has no place within these walls, just like facts don't have a place within an organized religion."

Oliver Mounsey, Bristol, England

Steve of London; that all depends whether the Oxford don in question won an existing and august chair on merit or if he became a don by some other means.

M. Schiller, Edinburgh,

It was Richard Dawkins himself who said 'Human rights are our creed.' Liberalism is indeed a 'creed' - a dictatorial, racist, sexist ideology that prostitutes language ('positive discrimination' et al) to serve its own baleful ends.

My own answer to liberalism is democratism, the rule of the democratic majority in all matters, including this one. The democratic majority of Christians is not liberal, so why should the democratic majority subject itself and its Christian doctrines to the anti-Christian diktats of liberal minority fundamentalists?

For 'liberal education' read liberal indoctrination...

Terry Daly, London, UK

Regardless of the fact that these colleges don't live up to Oxford's standards, what value has a degree in superstitious apologetics really got anyway?

Mark Allen, Nottingham,

Dear Rupert. You have my full suport.

Fabio C, London, UK

Meic, to teach young adults a very narrow strand of theology may seem like a good idea in the US or Saudi Arabia, but in a truly open society they need a balanced education.
Also, people should not have special privileges granted to them, or exemption from the laws which the rest of us have to obey just because of some claimed belief in supernatral forces.

Martin, York,

I'm amazed they won't allow them to take on school leavers, when they happily endorse religious schools.

starling, Lancaster,

Regarding Paul Williams' comments below, it strikes me that, since he has evidently never studied theology, he is under-qualified to criticise either its academic merit or its teaching.

As an Oxford undergraduate studying theology , I would say that the course has many merits irrespective of one's personal beliefs: it involves, as do many arts subjects, the logical and critical testing of complex arguments, and it provides for the formation of a critical and historical consciousness through the dispassionate study of a phenomenon which has had huge effect on our history and our present life. It certainly does not tell people 'what' to think, only how others think and have thought. In the last year I have studied everything from the history of ancient Israel, to philosophical ethics and Freud and Durkheim's sociology: hardly the mark of a narrow or intellectually bankrupt discipline.

And in what way am I being abused by being taught theology? I, after all, chose to study it.

Rupert, Oxford,

I am not surprised that Dr Turnbull is pleased with the outcome of this report. It has merely allowed him to become the Christian martyr figure that he has desired. His aim is to disaffiliate Wycliffe from the University and draw thousands of dollars from fundamentalist Christian groups in the US by claiming persecution. He is merely one of a group of conservative Evangelicals who draw authority from their Oxford affiliations and have no commitment to liberal theology.

As an undergraduate I enjoyed an excellent Oxford experience at Regent's Park College, the most academic Baptist seminary in the UK. This is a Permanent Private Hall that balances its denominational roots with a commitment to religious and academic pluralism and University values. It has an excellent record of male&female students achieving first class degrees in non-theological subjects.
However, none of the other halls perform on such a consistent basis and will have to follow Regent's example or face the music

Jennifer, Oxford, UK

Saying that Oxford comes at the top of the tables for Theology is not something to be proud of.

That is no different to saying that Broadmoor Secure Hospital comes at the top of the tables for insane murders. Oh Well Done!!

I find it offensive that an 'expert' in a subject with no evidence whatsoever can arbitrarily award any mark at all on pages of submitted nonsense.

How on earth do you award marks for learning, understanding and accepting falsehoods? The subject is as useful and pertinent as trying to decide whether the baddies in Star Trek could beat the goodies in Star Wars. At least that cosmological conundrum is merely a bit of fun and won't cost any lives in the arguments.

The teaching of theology of any kind is worse than intellectual bankruptcy. It goes beyond brainwashing and firmly into abuse.

Theology should be recognised for what it really is: a course designed to force people "what" to think, when a University should be teaching people "how" to think.

Paul Williams, Northampton, UK

@ J from London:
Oxford most certainly *would* have a problem accommodating a fundamentalist Islamic or other "Eastern" (your words) institution. This point has nothing to do with the issue at hand. And I think that the former VC's review and the recommendations arising from it are excellent and very much a move in the right direction.

Student, Oxford, UK

In all fairness, whilst not all Christians agree with a fundamentalist viewpoint on issues such as homosexuality or ordination of women, there is a biblical basis for such views, and so it makes sense to include them in a theology course, whether or not the lecturer (or other members of the University) agree or disagree with such views. The fact is colleges such as Wycliff were set up for the training of the Clergy in the Anglican Church. If Oxford no longer wants to have a role in training Anglican Clergy, then it should split from these colleges. But it should not try to prevent such institutions from teaching the existence of viewpoints which are held by a significant number of Anglicans, simply because it disagrees with them. An awareness of such views is necessary for anyone going into the ministry, whether or not they are palatable to non-Christian members of the University.

Becky, Oxford, England

At Oxford the onus is very much upon the student to take advantage of opportunities available to them. These are wide and varied regardless of which college a student is a member of. The PPH's add breadth, diversity, and interest to a university which is in danger of losing its moments of individuality along with the rest of this sceptered isle.

Dominic Mattos, Surrey

Dominic Mattos, Guildford, Surrey

Let me see if I understand this: In the name of providing a "rounded learning experience," Sir Colin and his cronies would bar any form of Christian education that they find at odds with their own view of the palatable. In the name of fostering a breadth of knowledge, the report inaugurates a secular Inquisition. Another day, another enlightenment, another guillotine. Why is it that the self-declared proponents of tolerance are never content until they've muzzled and suppressed any dissent? Torquemada and Cotton Mather were pikers on that score compared to Lucas and Dawkins!

Ralph Williams, Somers, Connecticut

Really, it's only because it's Christian. If it were, for example Islamic, or Hindu, nobody would have an issue with it. Due to our culture's "liberalism" we tiptoe around any faith that is "new" or in the minority in the West. I find it hilarious that we consider ourselves liberal, which inherently has to come with some tolerance for the things we don't like, but don't tolerate those who are intolerant, or illiberal. Unless it's Eastern. (which Christianity originally was)

J, London,

Hmmm, I am a devout Christian, but I find the 'conservative evangelical' wing of Christianity to be quite a concern, mainly because they have such an influence over so many young Christians in the form of UCCF (the guys who run CU's in most universities). I think the problem with them and these Oxford colleges is they are affraid to raise with young people other peoples opinions for fear they may be led away from faith. I am very wary of the 'brainwashing' that can occur of young Christians and on the whole I tend to find most of my fellow Christians quite anti-intellectual, and they have no real understanding of the arguements for atheism. Utlimatly I am reminded of a quote from my favourite philosopher Nietzsche; "The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher regard those who think alike than those who think differently."

Jonathan, Preston, UK

Oxford University can hardly claim to be acting in a liberal tradition. Their action reeks of defiance of academic, religious and cultural freedom. Has political correctness taken over the University or is there some more sinister anti Christian or anti religion cabal taken over. Having diversity, including a variety of belief groups as integral parts of the University is the ethos of the University. Seems Oxford has got it the wrong way round defining the administration beliefs as the ones to be shared by all others.

James J, Epsom, Surrey

Few of the Oxford colleges are very suitable for 18 year olds. They can find themselves in a very lonely and hostile environment. At least in a theological college they have a superb system of pastoral support available, as well as full access to the theology faculty. Wycliffe's academic results compare well with most of the big colleges, and surely the quality of the degrees achieved means something, even in a politically correct Oxford?

Alan Marsh, Ely,

No wonder Wycliffe get the best results if it teaches theology. What do you have to do for a theology degree? Make something up, argue that the evidence must be wrong because it doesn't agree with your statement and then tell anyone who disagrees with you that they are a heretic.

Colin, Cheshire, UK

Roy Mellor, Wycliffe obtains the best results of the PPHs.

In comparison to mainstream colleges, however, Wycliffe's results for Theology, and indeed all other subjects, are rather more mediocre.

Less a question of who is out to destroy what than who is out to distort what?

Kristian Carter, Suffolk,

Is Oxford University going to change the names of its colleges next? They sound far too Christian: Christ Church; St John's; Corpus Christi; Trinity ; St Catherine's etc.

Eric Hester, Bolton,

Welcome to intolerant 21st-century Britain. That the persecutors describe themselves as "liberal" and claim to want a "liberal education" whilst forbidding any place in the public square to any who differ from them by one iota is an irony which its protagonists have by now become used to brazening out; after all, they're winning anyway. Earlier this year, we saw Acts of Parliament passed which can close down Christian or religious businesses which try to operate along moral guidelines, and church adoption agencies which won't hand over babies to gay couples. The 'open society', it seems, is not really very open at all.

Meic Pearse, Houghton College NY, U.S.A.

Well, no, a Theological College probably isn't suitable for young people straight out of school, but to say that such places can't offer degrees to those who aren't straight out of school is just silly.

D Lloyd, Oxford,

Frankly I am staggered that there is still evangelical, biblically based theology taught anywhere in Oxford. I thought they had embraced paganism a long time ago and only worshipped their own knowledge.

We should have learnt long ago that man knows best. Who does the God of the Bible think he is? He's no match for the brain of an Oxford don!

Steve, London, UK

Isn;t it strange that the Wycliffe obtains the best results for its degrees? And even more strange that Oxford comes right at the top of the tables for Theology in Uk Universities. Who is out to destroy what?

ROY MELLOR, NORTHAMPTON,