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.
Congratulations! I hope she shares your outlook on life.
Marriage is a noble institution, so don't f@&k it up!
I don't know where you're getting your information from, but these are all well-refuted charges.
Congratulations! Wishing you both years of health and joy.
I realized that someone who is raised with good morals, separate from attending church, can be more mature than someone who knows what is right, but is to immature to do it yet.
Which led me to, maybe Christianity doesn't work. Maybe it's a ruse. But God directed me to a passage in the Bible that strengthened my faith.
Phil 1:6
... 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Progress intelligently planned by God. There is always hope for us to overcome those areas of weakness. If you abide in Christ, He has better access, and the results come much quicker.
As you can see, this still leaves no room for blatant hypocrisy. Free will allows us to sin, even though we are no longer slaves to sin. Jesus always did the perfect will of the Father, therefore Jesus' free will always lined up with Gods will. By seeking Christ, moment by moment, we are free to line up with Gods' perfect will as well.
bondserv
P.S. It is still my understanding that those who haven't chose to align with God, are still slaves to sins. My experience with good moral non-believers, is that there are areas of failure in their lives, which they have no hope or desire to progress in character. I call it Incapacitated by the enemy. For this reason I give them my understanding and my prayers.
My wife says that she will remember our wedding day for the rest of her life.
Man, talk about holding a grudge!
Seriously, good luck and best wishes!
There are many more such discussions, not just regarding the Grand Canyon. What you will notice is the scientists deny the obvious in order to support their world view.
Some day, if I get the time, I will try to compile a collection of Flood supporting explainations for other geological formations.
Nevertheless, you will be graded on your attendence here. You must take an internet-enabled portable with you on your honeymoon. Those are the rules. And we expect you to recruit your bride as a participant in our threads.
Don't forget the web-cam.....
;-)
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