Professor Refuses Letters of Recommendation to Creationist Students

AP Breaking News ^

[governsleastgovernsbest]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-evolution-dispute0130jan30,0,713004.story

Professor's Letter Refusal Causes Probe By LISA FALKENBERG Associated Press Writer

January 30, 2003, 9:50 AM EST

DALLAS -- A biology professor who refuses to write letters of recommendation for his students if they don't believe in evolution is being accused of religious discrimination, and federal officials are investigating, the school said.

The legal complaint was filed against Texas Tech University and professor Michael Dini by a student and the Liberty Legal Institute, a religious freedom group that calls Dini's policy "open religious bigotry."

[f.Christian]

Posted by f.Christian to Jeff Chandler

jc... (( original ))

"They have no business encouraging homosexuality, or forcing its acceptance upon students or faculty. The schools should teach the kids to behave like civilized people, that every individual should be treated with respect. Instead, they choose to indoctrinate them in leftist ideology. The entire school should be a safe zone for everyone. The whole idea of special protection for any one group is unAmerican."

4 posted on 01/26/2003 3:07 PM PST by Jeff Chandler ( ; -)

fC... (( revision ))

They have no business encouraging homosexuality (( evolutuion // atheism // . . . abortion // link )) **, or forcing its acceptance upon students or faculty. The schools should teach the kids to behave (( think )) ** like civilized people, that every individual should be treated with respect. Instead, they choose to indoctrinate them in (( hard core )) ** leftist ideology (PC // BIAS )) ** . The entire school should be a safe zone (( NO brainwashing )) ** for everyone. The whole idea (( tyranny )) ** of special protection (( MONOPOLY )) ** for any one group (( priveledges )) ** is . . . unAmerican (( original thread )) - - - (( forced RELIGION establishment // vetting // witch hunts // purges // elites )) ** .

.. .. .. **...my additions !

[OperationFreedom]

Where in the Bible does it say the earth is flat? I missed it in my readings.

[tallhappy]

The professor probably "learned" of the students' views on evolution in the course of classroom discussions, during which the students may have been overzealous in unobjectively condemning the professor's views.

No.

Read the article. He stated that if students ask for a recommendation he will ask them their beliefs.

[Right Wing Professor]

Biology without evolution is birdwatching.

Not really. Only at highest levels of the ivory tower is this potentially the case.

Are you arguing ex cathedra, or do you plan to defend this?

Even, though, accepting evolution must accompany biology, a belief in it is irrelevant. Understanding and mastery of concept does not need to be linked to belief.

So your potential creationst medical student should be prepared to spend a career applying reasoning whose truth he rejects? I think you're confusing medicine with the law :-)

[tallhappy]

How you interpret Genesis, microevolution, the fossil record, and the meaning of life is not a trivial personal preference like your favorite color.

To an atheist it is, or should be.

When it's not it is a sign that simple atheism on an individual's part is not the issue.

[tallhappy]

Disagree. Being able to do research in genomics would be hampered seriously if one refused to use reasoning based on evolution.

Logical mistake. Being able to do reasoning based on evolutionary theory is independent of belief.

There are plenty of evolution believers who don't always reason correctly.

Your point could be relevant for high level academic consideration, such a Professorship position. Not for technical work.

[f.Christian]

Healthy normal people and children from good homes and families have an immunity to this nonsense // disease (( liberalism // evolution )) but there seems to be a permanent growing underclass dependent on the govt and their // our overlords who are feeding on this diet // formula and living and preying on the rest of us!

[usastandsunited]

So your potential creationst medical student should be prepared to spend a career applying reasoning whose truth he rejects? I think you're confusing medicine with the law :-)

I think thats ok as long as you make it a rule that no medical doctor in any circumstance that believes God created us, should give/provide medical attention to you or any of your loved ones.

[f.Christian]

No pre cambrian fossils .. .. ..

massive flooding // 'volcanic' sediment layering from above .. .. ..

and sub terranean layering from below -- -- --

young earth = = = all the time for erosian // evolution is gone . . .

evolution ===== hoax // scam !

Main Entry: sub·ter·ra·nean
Pronunciation: "s&b-t&-'rA-nE-&n, -ny&n
Variant(s): also sub·ter·ra·neous /-nE-&s, -ny&s/
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin subterraneus, from sub- + terra earth -- more at THIRST
Date: 1603
1 : being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
2 : existing or working in secret : HIDDEN
- sub·ter·ra·nean·ly also sub·ter·ra·neous·ly adverb

[Right Wing Professor]

I think thats ok as long as you make it a rule that no medical doctor in any circumstance that believes God created us, should give/provide medical attention to you or any of your loved ones.

A belief that God created us is not inconsistent with a belief in Darwinian evolution. After all, who are you to set rules for God about the mechanisms He should use for His creation? But don't take my word for it, ask the Pope.

[BearCub]

there is more evidence in support of evolution than there is in support of gravity. Creationists are an embarrassment to Christians the world over

That is simply not true.

I'm on the fence in the debate. As far as I've seen, there isn't much evidence to support either theory.

[usastandsunited]

A belief that God created us is not inconsistent with a belief in Darwinian evolution
Why are you so hostile to "creationists" then? Which that senario, one can be a "Creationist" and not conflict with your beliefs.

After all, who are you to set rules for God about the mechanisms He should use for His creation?

This question doesn't make any sense. I'm not going to answer that because I've never said a such thing.

But don't take my word for it, ask the Pope

I guess I could, but the Pope doesn't have any direct revelation that you or I do not have access to.

[Right Wing Professor]

Why are you so hostile to "creationists" then? Which that senario, one can be a "Creationist" and not conflict with your beliefs.

A creationist, as the word is commonly used, disputes the evolutionary origin of species in favor of special creation. I'm not interested in arguing people's own individualistic definitions.

I guess I could, but the Pope doesn't have any direct revelation that you or I do not have access to.

I'm not going there, except to say that you deny is a tenet of Catholic faith.

[Right Wing Professor]

Sorry, that was "what you deny is a tenet of Catholic faith"

[MoGalahad]

Right on Boris. God talks about these people in Romans 1:18-25. "For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen".

[Stultis]

Go to "Seminar Online." You will not regret it.

Ah, yes, Dr. Dino. I caught his act live a number of years ago. He went on and on about the scientific establishment censoring his definitive refutation of evilution. Only at the end did he name the august publication that spiked his earth-shattering paper -- Reader's Digest. I nearly fell out of my chair!

[dinasour]

If the situation were reversed I wouldn't expect the Creationist to recommend a student who didn't believe

One of the techniques that I have seen conservative commentators use against liberals is to "put the shoe on the other foot".

Okay, should a Professor at a Baptist Theological Seminary be required to give a letter of recommendation to a Wiccan?

Should a physician at a Catholic teaching hospital be required to recommend an abortionist?

Life is not fair. It has never been fair, and it isn't up to the government to make it fair.

[f.Christian]

Creation/God...REFORMATION(Judeo-Christianity)---secular-govt.-humanism/SCIENCE---CIVILIZATION!

Originally the word liberal meant social conservatives(no govt religion--none) who advocated growth and progress---mostly technological(knowledge being absolute/unchanging)based on law--reality... UNDER GOD---the nature of GOD/man/govt. does not change. These were the Classical liberals...founding fathers-PRINCIPLES---stable/SANE scientific reality/society---industrial progress...moral/social character-values(private/personal) GROWTH(limited NON-intrusive PC Govt/religion---schools)!

Evolution...Atheism-dehumanism---TYRANNY(pc/liberal/govt-religion/rhetoric)...

Then came the SPLIT SCHIZOPHRENIA/ZOMBIE/BRAVE-NWO1984 LIBERAL NEO-Soviet Darwin/ACLU America---the post-modern age of evo bigotry...

[k2blader]

The Web page advises students seeking a recommendation to be prepared to answer the question: "How do you think the human species originated?"

"If you cannot truthfully and forthrightly affirm a scientific answer to this question, then you should not seek my recommendation for admittance to further education in the biomedical sciences," Dini writes.

This makes me wonder why anyone would *want* this guy's recommendation in the first place. If he were honest, Dini would say: "If you are a Creationist, then you should not seek my recommendation for admittance to further education in the biomedical sciences." But as long as a recommendation by Dini specifically is not prerequisite to continuation in the field, it's likely he'll still be able to practice his bigotry.

The legal complaint began with Texas Tech student Micah Spradling, who withdrew from Dini's class and the university in the fall and enrolled at Lubbock Christian University after learning about Dini's policy.

Spradling, 22, wants to become a physician and said he needed a letter of recommendation from a biology professor but, as a creationist, he said he couldn't "sit there and truthfully say I believe in human evolution."

Good for you, Mr. Spradling!

[gore3000]

DALLAS -- A biology professor who refuses to write letters of recommendation for his students if they don't believe in evolution is being accused of religious discrimination, and federal officials are investigating, the school said.

About time that these leftist tyrants get their comeuppance. This is abuse of power and the guy should be fired. He does not belong teaching. He should be sent forthwith to Communist China or some other country where this kind of totalitarianism is appreciated and rewarded.

BTW - who says evolution is not atheistic?