Posted on 04/29/2003 10:43:39 AM PDT by Remedy
Texas Tech University biology professor Michael Dini recently came under fire for refusing to write letters of recommendation for students unable to "truthfully and forthrightly affirm a scientific answer" to the following question: "How do you think the human species originated?"
For asking this question, Professor Dini was accused of engaging in overt religious discrimination. As a result, a legal complaint was filed against Dini by the Liberty Legal Institute. Supporters of the complaint feared that consequences of the widespread adoption of Dini’s requirement would include a virtual ban of Christians from the practice of medicine and other related fields.
In an effort to defend his criteria for recommendation, Dini claimed that medicine was first rooted in the practice of magic. Dini said that religion then became the basis of medicine until it was replaced by science. After positing biology as the science most important to the study of medicine, he also posited evolution as the "central, unifying principle of biology" which includes both micro- and macro-evolution, which applies to all species.
In addition to claiming that someone who rejects the most important theory in biology cannot properly practice medicine, Dini suggested that physicians who ignore or neglect Darwinism are prone to making bad clinical decisions. He cautioned that a physician who ignores data concerning the scientific origins of the species cannot expect to remain a physician for long. He then rhetorically asked the following question: "If modern medicine is based on the method of science, then how can someone who denies the theory of evolution -- the very pinnacle of modern biological science -- ask to be recommended into a scientific profession by a professional scientist?"
In an apparent preemptive strike against those who would expose the weaknesses of macro-evolution, Dini claimed that "one can validly refer to the ‘fact’ of human evolution, even if all of the details are not yet known." Finally, he cautioned that a good scientist "would never throw out data that do not conform to their expectations or beliefs."
The legal aspect of this controversy ended this week with Dini finally deciding to change his recommendation requirements. But that does not mean it is time for Christians to declare victory and move on. In fact, Christians should be demanding that Dini’s question be asked more often in the court of public opinion. If it is, the scientific community will eventually be indicted for its persistent failure to address this very question in scientific terms.
Christians reading this article are already familiar with the creation stories found in the initial chapters of Genesis and the Gospel of John. But the story proffered by evolutionists to explain the origin of the species receives too little attention and scrutiny. In his two most recent books on evolution, Phillip Johnson gives an account of evolutionists’ story of the origin of the human species which is similar to the one below:In the beginning there was the unholy trinity of the particles, the unthinking and unfeeling laws of physics, and chance. Together they accidentally made the amino acids which later began to live and to breathe. Then the living, breathing entities began to imagine. And they imagined God. But then they discovered science and then science produced Darwin. Later Darwin discovered evolution and the scientists discarded God.
Darwinists, who proclaim themselves to be scientists, are certainly entitled to hold this view of the origin of the species. But that doesn’t mean that their view is, therefore, scientific. They must be held to scientific standards requiring proof as long as they insist on asking students to recite these verses as a rite of passage into their "scientific" discipline.
It, therefore, follows that the appropriate way to handle professors like Michael Dini is not to sue them but, instead, to demand that they provide specific proof of their assertion that the origin of all species can be traced to primordial soup. In other words, we should pose Dr. Dini’s question to all evolutionists. And we should do so in an open public forum whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Recently, I asked Dr. Dini for that proof. He didn’t respond.
Dini’s silence as well as the silence of other evolutionists speaks volumes about the current status of the discipline of biology. It is worth asking ourselves whether the study of biology has been hampered by the widespread and uncritical acceptance of Darwinian principles. To some observers, its study has largely become a hollow exercise whereby atheists teach other atheists to blindly follow Darwin without asking any difficult questions.
At least that seems to be the way things have evolved.
I have three M.D.s in my family -- grandfather, father and brother. I have seen mountains of professional journals, and you would be amazed at how often your fiercely upsetting scenerio is discussed.
Please show me where doctors threw up their hands when a patient came in and said “it’s in the hands of God”. You state it was very common.
I agree that Archimedes was a genius of the first order and even more so that he so freely shared so many of his insights. A very rare quality that, very rare.
Allowing third parties (insurance, Medicare, Government, etc.) to insert themselves between the doctor and patient is the underlying cause, IMHO.
But the fact remains that doctors should dig for scientific answers to unusual medical outcomes. Perhaps a rare gene that might suggest a new drug.
That's the symptom, the cripping of the market system. But medicine is a unique product, because like acddictive drugs, people will pay any price for health. Politicians have become the dealers.
.. a bit of evidence that we're related to some other hominids with the same genetic defect, presumably a non-fatal inheritance from a long-ago ancestor of us all...
To me, one of the most convincing pieces of evidence that we are related to the (other) great apes. In short, all mammals, except for guinea pigs, humans, gorillas, chimps, and (I forget which other apes) produce ascorbic acid. The gene for it is in our genome, but is fatally mutated, this is also true for the apes and guinea pigs. The interesting thing is that the guinea pig has its own unique mutation, whereas the apes and people share the exact same mutation.
Have to run, can't post a link right now. I know that talk origins discusses it, just do a Google search
Or, to quote P. J. O'Rourke:
"If you think medical care is expensive now, wait 'til you see what it costs when it's free."
I hope only the best for your parents.
But the fact remains that doctors should dig for scientific answers to unusual medical outcomes. Perhaps a rare gene that might suggest a new drug.
Take this to the ‘Platonic’ level… Let’s say we were able to extend our lives indefinitely. The (supposed) ‘mindless’ universe will pass eventually.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.