Graydon Snyder, Theology professor at Chicago Theology Seminary, has used the same ancient Talmudic tale for 34 years to illustrate to students the difference in the way both Christians and Jews are judged in the eyes of God: A roofer falls on a woman in such a way that they accidentally have sex. "The New Testament says if you think about doing the act, you've done it," Snyder said. "The Talmud says if you do the act, but didn't think about it, you didn't do it."

He has used the tale, that is, until a student filed a complaint that it was inappropriate and that she was offended by its sexual content. "She said in the complaint that men are always saying that they don't intend to do any harm and in fact they do," Snyder said.

The seminary's sexual harassment task force placed Snyder on probation and distributed letters telling the seminary's 250 students and faculty that he had been punished and why. The panel ordered Snyder to get therapy and advised him not to be alone with students or staff members. He is still teaching at the seminary, but not the introductory Bible class.

Claiming that his academic freedom had been abridged, Snyder filed a lawsuit against the school and the disciplinary panel in Circuit Court, asking for unspecified damages. "If I told a dirty story or made sexual advances, I could understand," Snyder said.

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