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Author Topic:   ID course to be offered at the University of Kansas
BuckeyeChris
Inactive Member


Message 1 of 11 (262383)
11-22-2005 11:34 AM


From CNN.com:
College course seeks to debunk intelligent design
Proposed religion class labels creationism as 'mythology'
Tuesday, November 22, 2005; Posted: 10:14 a.m. EST (15:14 GMT)
LAWRENCE, Kansas (AP) -- Creationism and intelligent design are going to be studied at the University of Kansas, but not in the way advocated by opponents of the theory of evolution.
A course being offered next semester by the university religious studies department is titled "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies."
"The KU faculty has had enough," said Paul Mirecki, department chairman.
"Creationism is mythology," Mirecki said. "Intelligent design is mythology. It's not science. They try to make it sound like science. It clearly is not."
Earlier this month, the state Board of Education adopted new science teaching standards that treat evolution as a flawed theory, defying the view of science groups.
Although local school boards still decide how science is taught in the classrooms, the vote was seen as a major victory for proponents of intelligent design, which says that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power.
Critics say intelligent design is merely creationism -- a literal reading of the Bible's story of creation as the handiwork of God -- camouflaged in scientific language as a way to get around court rulings that creationism injects religion into public schools.
John Calvert, an attorney and managing director of the Intelligent Design Network in Johnson County, Kansas, said Mirecki will go down in history as a laughingstock.
"To equate intelligent design to mythology is really an absurdity, and it's just another example of labeling anybody who proposes (intelligent design) to be simply a religious nut," Calvert said. "That's the reason for this little charade."
Mirecki said his course, limited to 120 students, would explore intelligent design as a modern American mythology. Several faculty members have volunteered to be guest lecturers, he said.
University Chancellor Robert Hemenway said Monday he didn't know all the details about the new course.
"If it's a course that's being offered in a serious and intellectually honest way, those are the kind of courses a university frequently offers," he said.

Replies to this message:
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RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 2 of 11 (262880)
11-24-2005 9:42 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by BuckeyeChris
11-22-2005 11:34 AM


John Calvert, an attorney and managing director of the Intelligent Design Network in Johnson County, Kansas, said Mirecki will go down in history as a laughingstock.
Argument from consequences: a logical fallacy, does not attack the message but the consequence of it to the messenger.
Logical fallacies are the sign of a weak argument.
Enjoy.

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by BuckeyeChris, posted 11-22-2005 11:34 AM BuckeyeChris has not replied

  
wiseman45
Inactive Member


Message 3 of 11 (263140)
11-25-2005 7:31 PM


This isn't surprising
This really is not that surprising: Lawrence, (for those of you who don't know, that is the seat of KU) is probably the most liberal/secular town in Kansas, because you've got all the sophisticates and educated people living there, due to the university. Okay, got the most obvious fact out of the way.
I think the good professor has every right to have a course like this: if they (fundamentalists) want to impose their beliefs in science, and criticize an established scientific idea, then scientists can certainly fight back. Its about time someone did this: a lot of people who think like me have been saying this for a long time, but this is the first time in Kansas that someone on an administrative or educational level has launched an investigation into the flaws behind creationism. And they say evolution is flawed.
Why are they allowed to say that God or "something else" (God) created the universe? Should we continue the search for this all-powerful designer (God). Maybe we should go the local church for answers, to find more about this "designer." (Face it folks, we're really talking about God.) This all is at best an assumption, but no its really something like dogmatic belief. And really, religion is okay, I'm no aethiest, as I've made clear before. You just can't teach religion as science. And by inserting criticisms of creationism into KU, this professor is doing the right thing, of that I am confident. Creationism, Intellegent Design, and other Relgious myths. Ha Ha Ha.
Wiseman45

  
Minnemooseus
Member
Posts: 3941
From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior)
Joined: 11-11-2001
Member Rating: 10.0


Message 4 of 11 (265799)
12-05-2005 2:44 PM


KU withdraws intelligent design course
A controversial class on intelligent design at Kansas University has been dropped from the spring schedule, the university announced Thursday.
Paul Mirecki, chair of KU's religious studies department, withdrew the class, "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design and Creationism," after controversy erupted over e-mails he had written disparaging Catholics and religious conservatives.
"My concern is that students with a serious interest in this important subject matter would not be well served by the learning environment my e-mails and the public distribution of them have created. It would not be fair to the students," Mirecki wrote in a prepared statement.
"It was not my intent when I wrote the e-mails, but I understand now that these words have offended many on this campus and beyond, and for that I take full responsibility. I made a mistake in not leading by example, in this student organization e-mail forum, the importance of discussing differing viewpoints in a civil and respectful manner."
Provost David Shulenberger added: "I granted Professor Mirecki's request and agree with his recognition that his actions had created an untenable situation. We still think the course itself not only has merit but is important and should be taught at some point.
"While the e-mails were unquestionably offensive, I know that Professor Mirecki regrets the situation he created. He has taught biblical studies and other religious studies courses here for 16 years and has an international reputation for his research. I hope this serious scholar will continue his work."
The State Board of Education's conservative majority last month successfully pushed changes in the state's public schools science standards that critique evolution - with intelligent design at the heart of those standards. Mirecki's course was inspired by that decision.
Dated December 1, 2005
Source
More related materials at the cite location.
Moose
Added by edit:
The Lawrence Journal-World's "Evolution In Kansas" index page.
News, Sports, Jobs - Lawrence Journal-World: news, information, headlines and events in Lawrence, Kansas
This message has been edited by minnemooseus, 12-05-2005 02:53 PM

  
Mammuthus
Member (Idle past 6475 days)
Posts: 3085
From: Munich, Germany
Joined: 08-09-2002


Message 5 of 11 (266006)
12-06-2005 6:53 AM


Where are the Christians protesting this?
To update this story further, the same professor was attacked by two individuals while walking along the road.
Page Unavailable - ABC News
from the article
LAWRENCE, Kan. Dec 5, 2005 ” A college professor whose planned course on creationism and intelligent design was canceled after he derided Christian conservatives said he was beaten by two men along a rural road early Monday.
University of Kansas religious studies professor Paul Mirecki said the men referred to the class when they beat him on the head, shoulders and back with their fists, and possibly a metal object, the Lawrence Journal-World reported.
"I didn't know them," Mirecki said of his assailants, "but I'm sure they knew me."
Messages left by the Associated Press on Mirecki's cell phone were not immediately returned.
Sheriff's Lt. Kari Wempe said Mirecki reported the attack just before 7 a.m.
The professor said he confronted the men after they were tailgating his vehicle along a road south of Lawrence. "I'm mostly shaken up, and I got some bruises and sore spots," he said.
Mirecki planned to offer a spring course called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies" after the Kansas Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in science standards for elementary and secondary students.
Last week, Mirecki asked the university to cancel the class after he created a furor by sending an e-mail to a student organization mocking Christian fundamentalists.
Mirecki had referred to religious conservatives as "fundies," and said a course describing intelligent design as mythology would be a "nice slap in their big fat face." He has apologized for those comments.
Whether you think what Mirecki did was correct or not...is this how Xians wish to be portrayed? If offended, initiate a cowardly attack with 2 on one on a side road on a professor of religious studies? So much for "turn the other cheek"

Replies to this message:
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roxrkool
Member (Idle past 989 days)
Posts: 1497
From: Nevada
Joined: 03-23-2003


Message 6 of 11 (266031)
12-06-2005 11:11 AM
Reply to: Message 5 by Mammuthus
12-06-2005 6:53 AM


Re: Where are the Christians protesting this?
Divine retribution.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by Mammuthus, posted 12-06-2005 6:53 AM Mammuthus has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 7 of 11 (266049)
12-06-2005 12:00 PM
Reply to: Message 5 by Mammuthus
12-06-2005 6:53 AM


Re: Where are the Christians protesting this?
Many Christians would be agast to find out that other Christians could behave in such a cowardly manner. But being a Christian is not synonymous with being Christ like. Christian do, and have done, terrible things in the past. It is necessary for Christians to recognize that as a fact and not simply use the cop-out "well they weren't real Christians".

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by Mammuthus, posted 12-06-2005 6:53 AM Mammuthus has replied

Replies to this message:
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Mammuthus
Member (Idle past 6475 days)
Posts: 3085
From: Munich, Germany
Joined: 08-09-2002


Message 8 of 11 (268097)
12-12-2005 9:38 AM
Reply to: Message 7 by jar
12-06-2005 12:00 PM


Re: Where are the Christians protesting this?
Having constantly heard how immoral and unethical anybody is who is 1)non-Xian 2) liberal
I find the silence of the so called "moral majority" or morality concerned xians rather indicative of supreme hypocrisy rather than a supreme being
I am not claiming all Xians hold this view..but it is pretty amazing how so many were eager to condemn this man for his actions but not a peep from any of them about the very supposedly un-Xian behavior of the two guys who assaulted him.

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Replies to this message:
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Mammuthus
Member (Idle past 6475 days)
Posts: 3085
From: Munich, Germany
Joined: 08-09-2002


Message 9 of 11 (268110)
12-12-2005 10:22 AM
Reply to: Message 8 by Mammuthus
12-12-2005 9:38 AM


Re: Where are the Christians protesting this?
Another update,
Not only has the guy been beaten up..he has been forced to resign his chairmanship by the University.
so I see that free speech is yet another principle the religous right are against...I guess the hyprocisy will end once they tie the guy up and burn him as a warlock in Salem?
Error

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by Mammuthus, posted 12-12-2005 9:38 AM Mammuthus has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 10 by jar, posted 12-12-2005 12:54 PM Mammuthus has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 10 of 11 (268170)
12-12-2005 12:54 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by Mammuthus
12-12-2005 10:22 AM


Re: Where are the Christians protesting this?
so I see that free speech is yet another principle the religous right are against...
Stiffling any discussion that might challenge their beliefs is an essential part of some folks agenda. We have even seen it here where some Christians have advocated that all Christian children should leave the public school system. The motive is an understanding, although they may not be willing to express it directly, that their believes will not withstand objective challenges. To maintain their belief system is is essential that they wall off students from anything they believe is threatening.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by Mammuthus, posted 12-12-2005 10:22 AM Mammuthus has replied

Replies to this message:
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Mammuthus
Member (Idle past 6475 days)
Posts: 3085
From: Munich, Germany
Joined: 08-09-2002


Message 11 of 11 (268671)
12-13-2005 4:01 AM
Reply to: Message 10 by jar
12-12-2005 12:54 PM


Re: Where are the Christians protesting this?
Hi jar,
I am not sure I would agree with that. If a parent wants to home school their child, that is essentially their decision. I know a professor who was so frustrated with the public school system that he home schooled his own children...since he was a molecular biologist, they got a really good science and math education. It was his choice for his family. If Xians pulled out of the public school system, that would be there choice. I would not feel compelled to ever hire a home schooled student in lab who's answer to every question was "goddidit" but that is another issue. I do agree with you that the radical Xian right in America is trying to stifle discussion of the subjects precisely because their uneducated views of science will not withstand scrutiny. That their methods of stifling are turning violent indicates very dark days to come. Having looked around the web for responses to this event in Kansas, the right wing blogs are either applauding the incident or claiming it never happened and that he is lying (but deserved it anyway)..scary stuff. Similar things happened here in Germany not too long ago...and the consequences where horrendous.

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