Posted on 11/29/2005 9:31:13 AM PST by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I have argued that the discontinuous gap between humans and 'apes' that we erect in our minds is regrettable. I have also argued that, in any case, the present position of the hallowed gap is arbitrary, the result of evolutionary accident. If the contingencies of survival and extinction had been different, the gap would be in a different place. Ethical principles that are based upon accidental caprice should not be respected as if cast in stone.
- Dawkins
Satire?
*Sigh*
I have seen the name a few times on these threads, but haven't bothered to check the links. I studied evolution a number of years ago, primarily the bones side, and have kept up as best as I can, but have not run into Dawkins in my studies.
I stated self-admitted(or simply admitted) failure. That is true. I have not slandered him. I have stated what is derived from this.
Barrett conceded that he was not a Medical Board Certified psychiatrist because he had failed the certification exam.
He is therefore a self-admitted failure in his field.
Nice strawman - build it yourself?
Really, now - is this kind of equivocation the best you can come up with tonight?
Nice picture, but self-referencing. Well, would you go to a psychiatrist for chest pains?
Failing the professional exam to become board specialized does not make him a failure in his field.
The red herring seems to be in season tonight.
You don't need to be good to practice either. But a failure is still a failure and to fail to attain something you strive for in your field is a failure in your field. And when you admit it, it is a self-admitted failure in your field.
Yes, I see the one you are now waving. You still haven't answered a simple question. Would you go to a psychiatrist for chest pains? Yes or no?
I presume you've been completely successful in everything you've ever attempted professionally, lest you be hoist by your own petard and labeled a professional failure.
I guess you'd call the event a success.
Sorry, play Socratic Method games with someone else. If you have a point to make, make it or watch it die on the vine.
Nope. Its just one of those crazy creationist theories that I know you enjoy ; ) Pssst
I got a few more from scientists that you might not know about
He was evidently never certified and he attempted to do so at least once. Why did he not attain his goal? The CPA test is so hard that few pass it on the first try, but many eventually pass it. They are not failures in their fields.
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