[hispanarepublicana]

I'll bet if Dini's rigid position was in defense of Creationism, this wouldn't just be a local story.

[joesnuffy]

How is believing the "lie" of evolution going to help one practice sound medicine?..perhaps it trains young doctor on how to kill the unborn or defraud medi-caid and not lose any sleep over it?...

[tjg]

"a large amount of literature exists against the theory."

None of it science though. Which is sort of the point.

This anti-evolution thing is like the Clintons. There is an overwealming body of evidence that they are twisted meglomaniacs that care about nothing except power, yet millions of people all over the world think they are decent, caring people.

They don't see the facts because they won't look at them.

[Kevin Curry]

The policy seems unusual, May said, but Dini should not be "gang-tackled and punished for his policy."

Was Dini subjected to acts of physical abuse? Was he fined or imprisoned? I guess I missed that report.

[hispanarepublicana]

I think Dini's website has been disabled this morning. Here's what I found in the campus directory, though:

MICHAEL LAWRENCE DINI
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

MS3131
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409

Phone:	(806) 742-2729
Fax:
Email:	MICHAEL.DINI@TTU.EDU
Web:

[DJtex]

"One can deny this evidence only at the risk of calling into question one's understanding of science and of the method of science,"

It's stated a bit baldly, but true. I wouldn't want to be treated by an MD who had tried to get thru med school by resisting the overwhelming evidence of the intimate evolutionary relationship of homo sapiens to other species.

There are some extraordinary advances being made on our "theory" of evolution at this time, such as our understanding that evolution may take place in dischordant leaps rather than imperceptible slow-flow. But unfortunately, none of this scientific progress is coming from the "creationist" school, or sect.

Creationism is a religious freedom, and I support that. But it is, at it's heart, anti-scientific. I really can't understand why it is such a preoccupation with FreeRepublic.

[Alouette]

Do Muslims believe in evolution? He he refused to qualify a Muslim, do you think he could get away with it?

[balrog666]

Dini's site also states: "So much physical evidence supports" evolution that it can be referred to as fact even if all the details are not known.

"One can deny this evidence only at the risk of calling into question one's understanding of science and of the method of science," Dini states on the Web site.

Sounds reasonable to me.

[chance33_98]

So know we have edicts coming not from churches but from professors, who whined that the church squashed free thinking in the old days. Hypocrites.

[martian_22]

I know one thing for sure.
Evolution has been used as a political tool to remove resistance to socialism for many decades.

It's an ideological "must" to attain credibility amongst peers. Do universities have any political agendas? I think so. Sombody tell me I'm wrong.

[Quix]

FOR SURE.

[scripter]

I think this professor could be a real ingrate," Vanderpool said. "I have a problem with a colleague who has enjoyed all the academic freedoms we have, which are extensive, and yet denies that to our students."

And evos here on FreeRepublic try just as hard to deny a similar objective freedom to anybody who doesn't buy the theory of evolution. It appears Dini and perhaps some of my fellow evo freepers have has taken the red pill. Those of us who don't buy the theory of evolution have taken the blue pill.

[Nebullis]

Micah Spradling was OK with learning about evolution in college, but his family drew the line when his belief in the theory became a prerequisite for continuing his education.

What nonsense. This Professor Dini is entitled to believe in sillyness as much as this student does. Since when does a recommendation from a particular professor become a prerequisite for continuing an education? My suggestion: find another professor...Texas Tech may have another one or two.

That said, medical school is a little different from science. One can be a fine clinician and believe that the moon is made of cheese. It makes not a bit of difference.

[mlo]

I'll bet if Dini's rigid position was in defense of Creationism, this wouldn't just be a local story.

Yes, and for good reason. They aren't equivalent. It would likewise be big news if a Geology professor required students to believe in flat earth, but one that required students to believe the earth is round is no news at all.

[rwfromkansas]

Wow. Weird seeing this when I am in a right wing Presbyterian college. The science department has tons of posters and articles.....many that mock evolution. There is no mention of evolution at all in the biology course syllabus. Abortion is clearly attacked as well.

[aruanan]

"How can someone who does not accept the most important theory in biology expect to properly practice in a field that is so heavily based on biology?" Dini's site reads.

As a Ph.D. in biology, I can say that Dini's statement doesn't even rise to the level of being moronic. If the theory of evolution (though we must ask which one) were suddenly gone tomorrow without a trace, it would make no practical difference at all in most fields of biology. Researchers would still be able to do molecular biology and discover how molecular mechanisms work. Medical scientists would still be able to devise strategies to fight disease. Ecologists would still be able to study the interrelationships between various animals and their environment. Geology, physics, astronomy, chemistry (even biochemistry), and mathematics would continue unabated since they have no reliance at all on a theory of organic evolution. As far as Dini's rhetorical question is concerned, not only would he be able to find no qualitative differences between two excellent medical doctors, one who did accept evolution and one who did not, there is nothing in the training of either of them that hinges upon a belief in evolution, the outcome of not believing being an inability to understand disease processes, diagnose, and treat.

This should serve to give those who have ears all they need to know about how "important" in a functional way evolution actually is. Its main purpose now, as it was in Darwin's day, is to provide a means of escaping the idea of a creator. Darwin, Huxley, Spencer, ALL of them, can be shown through their own writings to have yearned for such a way out. Many of those who publicly supported Darwin expressly for this reason in his day still didn't accept his theory but were happy to have something to which to rally the troops that could support their philosophy of naturalism which predated Darwin's theory.

[discostu]

Doesn't matter what the veracity of creation/ evolution is. It's this professors decision on who gets letters of recommendation from him. As long as he's not seeking bribes or sexual favors he can set whatever prerequisites he likes. Letters of recommendation are a matter of personal opinion and personal integrity. Nobody has to write a letter of recomendation for anybody they don't think deserves it. There are other professors the kid could have gotten letters from.

[keats5]

Chuck Colson speaks about another writer who claims that when debating evolution vs intellegent design, we are not comparing science to religion, we are comparing one religion to another religion.

[keats5]

Check this out.
http://www.breakpoint.org/Breakpoint/ChannelRoot/FeaturesGroup/BreakPointCommentaries/In+the+Beginning+Were+the+Particles.htm

[Spyder]

Fascinating story - thanks for posting it. There must be a lot of "incompetent" physicians at Loma Linda University then (and other Christian medical schools and centers). Odd how they consistent rate high, high-ranking dignitaries from other countries consult their cardiac team, and their cancer center is one of the better centers in the country with cutting-edge technology. But let's just trash the whole place because they believe in God and creation.

[LiteKeeper]

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