Kansas Prof. Apologizes for E-Mail [referred to religious conservatives as "fundies" ....]

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

Kansas Prof. Apologizes for E-Mail

11 minutes ago

A University of Kansas religion professor apologized for an e-mail that 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."

In a written apology Monday, Paul Mirecki, chairman of the university's Religious Studies Department, said he would teach the planned class "as a serious academic subject and in an manner that respects all points of view."

The department faculty approved the course Monday but changed its title. The course, originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationisms and other Religious Mythologies," will instead be called "Intelligent Design and Creationism."

The class was added to next spring's curriculum after the Kansas State Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in its standards for science teaching. The vote was seen as a big win for proponents of intelligent design, who argue 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 — camouflaged in scientific language.

Mirecki's e-mail was sent Nov. 19 to members of the Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics, a student organization for which he serves as faculty adviser.

"The fundies (fundamentalists) want it all taught in a science class, but this will be a nice slap in their big fat face by teaching it as a religious studies class under the category mythology."

Mirecki addressed the message to "my fellow damned" and signed off with: "Doing my part to (tick) off the religious right, Evil Dr. P."

[AndrewC]

How dare you go to the record for the facts, and not simply take the word of Barrett's enemies? What a fascist thing to do. Fascist.

As far as I can see, the record exists only in that post. Where is the citation so that the complete transcript can be viewed? As I understand it, Barrett lost his suit.

[Senator Bedfellow]

Show me the money, then. Give me something besides your say-so.

[Liberal Classic]

The Foundation for Health Choice is an anti-immunization and pro-chiropractic lobbying organization. It's unsurprising they'd be critical of Barret, because Barret also runs Chirobase.org, a site critical of chiropractors.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

How are my comments inaccurate? They are Koren's OWN testimony.

[js1138]

Drugs kill, real food heals. It's that simple

I don't find this in the Bible. You are the first FReeper I've met who has proclaimed himself smarter than God.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

http://www.chirobase.org/08Legal/koren/depo.html

Koren's testimony.

[AndrewC]

http://www.chirobase.org//08Legal/koren/depo.html

Here, and it is only a deposition, not a trial transcript. It did not go to trial, the judge threw it out. So evidently the only references will be depositions.

[editor-surveyor]

"He developed colon cancer"

Does this seem like a bit of "do as I say and not as I do?" If he developed colon cancer, then it is likely that he failed on his advocated nutritional regemen.

[Senator Bedfellow]

Okay, it's a deposition. Is that an inaccurate quotation of said deposition?

[AndrewC]

Look at post 498.

[AndrewC]

Okay, it's a deposition. Is that an inaccurate quotation of said deposition?

No.

But there are more depositions and Barrett lost the case.

[Senator Bedfellow]

So then the claim that Barrett had his license revoked or otherwise involuntarily removed is false, correct?

[Heartlander]

Professor Mirecki’s full e-mail:

Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005
Subject: I.D. & Creationism class to be taught at KU this spring!

To my fellow damned,

Its true, the fundies have been wanting to get I.D. and creationism into the Kansas public schools, so I thought “why don’t I do it?”

I will teach the class, with several other lefty KU professors in the sciences and humanities. Class is:

REL 602 Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationisms and other Religious Mythologies.

Tuesdays 7:00-9:30pm. Smith Hall room 100. Open to undergrads and grads.

Enrollment limited to about 120. 3 credit hours.

The fundies want it all taught in a science class, but this will be a nice slap in their big fat face by teaching it as a religious studies class under the category “mythology”. I expect it will draw much media attention. The university public relations office will have a press release on it in a few weeks, I also have contacts at several regional newspapers.

Of course, I won’t actually be teaching I.D. and creationisms, but rather I’ll be teaching ABOUT I.D. and creationisms as modern mythologies, indicating that these ideas have no place in a public school science class, but can certainly be analyzed in humanities classes for their function in society. Basic approach is my usual: anthropology with a focus on religious thought and behavior.

Any ideas for textbooks, guest lecturers and panels would be appreciated.

So far, six faculty have eagerly signed up to lecture. I can probably pull Chancellor Hemenway into this also, especially in the light of his public comments supporting evolution.

Doing my part to p*ss of the religious right,

Evil Dr. P.
_________
end

[furball4paws]

OMG, I just made that up as a joke, picking the stupidest thing I could think of at that moment.

(please don't tell me "Great minds think alike")

[CarolinaGuitarman]

Out for the rest of the night.

Cheers!

[Right Wing Professor]

In other words you are too chicken to post an anti Fundamentalist Islam symbol or wear an anti-Fundamentalist Islam T-Shirt, but you feel free to walk into class wearing a desecrated Christian Ichthus symbol to show your distaste for Fundamentalist Christians.

No, I'm unwilling to wear a shirt that inserts a swastika into the word Islam. I don't care for the religion, but I wouldn't associate it with the Nazis. There's a difference between being courageous, and being a rabid bigoted buffoon like yourself.

BTW, let's just see if the emblem you posted is acceptable on FR.

[P-Marlowe]

Interesting. I googled 'Ichthus symbol' and the first entry was from A Religious Tolerance web site. It seems this symbol has a pre-Christian history.

So does the cross, but does that mean that Andres Serrano didn't desecrate a Christian Symbol when he placed it in a jar of urine?

The intent of the Darwin Fish was to stick it to the Fundamentalist Christians. Just like the Kansas professor's intent was to stick it to the fundies by teaching a class called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationisms and other Religious Mythologies."

The intent of the Darwin Fish is to make Christians the object of derision. To wear such an object while teaching classes at a public school is a disgrace. Teaching a class at a publicly funded Taxpayer supported University while wearing a Christian Ichthus T-Shirt would obviously be frowned upon by the Administration. But if you desecrate that symbol and use it as an object of Christian intolerance, then that is just fine.

I just dare any of these so-called enlightened professors to publicly treat Islam with the same derision that they publicly treat Fundamentalists Christians. They might not lose their tenure, but they very well might lose their lives. That is why they won't do it. They equate Fundamentalist Christians with Fundamentalist Islamicists, but when it comes down to brass tacks, they know full well they have nothing to fear from the Christians and plenty to fear from the Muslims.

[Liberal Classic]

I see it posted frequently.

[AndrewC]

So then the claim that Barrett had his license revoked or otherwise involuntarily removed is false, correct?

Probably true, but that is not the point. Stephen Barrett lost the case and is apparently not what he appears to be. If he failed board certification, how can he be a credible expert?

[Right Wing Professor]

I see it posted frequently.

That's too bad. It makes us look like morons.