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."

[lawnguy]

Ah yes, another dose of "tolerance" from that little blue county in the middle of our otherwise bright red state.

[kinsman redeemer]

translation: "We've already talked about that fact. Now, forget about that and just focus on my fantasies."

[Hardastarboard]

I'll guarantee you this prof hangs out on DU. They use the term fundies as an insult all the time. Here I always thought they meant trust fund babies. How wrong was I?

[Oztrich Boy]

I say that the "wedge" doctrine is someone else's take on it, not the belief of major ID proponents themselves

Then you are misspeaking. The Discovery Institute Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture is the major ID proponents themselves.

In his book Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds, Phillip Johnson, commnomly recognised as the father of 20th Century ID, identifies himself as the Creator of The Wedge.

[Right Wing Professor]

You can make a pretty good Freudian case, if you believe that Freud was still worth mentioning, that Darwin was motivated by his desire to revolt against his religious, authoritarian father, as indeed many of Darwin's biographers have suggested

Robert Darwin was a freethinker.

I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother and almost all my best friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine." (p. 87)- Charles Darwin, Autobiography.

You guys just make it up as you go along, don't you?

[eleni121]

I'll stick to my interpretation of the firm and horrid connections between Darwinists/evos and fascism.

"One of the most insidious features of Darwin's evolutionary speculation was that it sought to erase the fundamental differences between man and animals."

http://www.gennet.org/facts/metro15.html

[cornelis]

And this is a damnable doctrine

It's called survival. Adapt and make yourself fit. : )

[cornelis]

to erase the fundamental differences between man and animals

Tools required: jackboots, a wildcard law on the books, and everything else on repeat.

[Right Wing Professor]

It's called survival. Adapt and make yourself fit. : )

Ah, but to which one? Islam has competing claims.

[cornelis]

Competing claims

"It is my job to tell the truth, and yours to judge rightly." --Socrates

[VOA]

bump

[CarolinaGuitarman]

"You can make a pretty good Freudian case, if you believe that Freud was still worth mentioning, that Darwin was motivated by his desire to revolt against his religious, authoritarian father, as indeed many of Darwin's biographers have suggested."

Which biographers? His father was what was called a *freethinker*. He was hardly devout, if he even believed at all. You need to get better sources.

[aNYCguy]

I'll stick to my interpretation of the firm and horrid connections between Darwinists/evos and fascism.

Cease your hysterics. It will be a strange day when conservatives scream "fascist!" at anything they don't like.

"One of the most insidious features of Darwin's evolutionary speculation was that it sought to erase the fundamental differences between man and animals."

If this is what you consider to be a "firm and horrid" connection between mainstream biologists and fascists, you have a thought disorder.

[cornelis]

Mutation into any ism is a human liability. Nobody exempt. Requires more than a "no." Could use a prayer.

[eleni121]

Given the frightening calibre of discussion here on the part of evos/darbinists my characterization of them as fascists stands...

[ml1954]

Certifiable, unmistakable, troll alert.

[RogueIsland]

Given the frightening calibre of discussion here on the part of evos/darbinists my characterization of them as fascists stands

You refer to their propensity for having the gall to post actual scientific evidence and argumentation for their positions? And for calling Creationists on their bewilderingly obvious fabrications and prevarications? Good grief, can't you people at least weed out the most obvious and flagrant falsehoods from your ID canon?

[Senator Bedfellow]

Quite the hothouse flower, aren't we?

[pointsal]

academic freedom

[eleni121]

What swampy darwinian muck and mire did you pop up from?