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1 posted on 01/30/2003 7:15:04 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

88 posted on 01/30/2003 8:50:11 AM PST by Jael
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
what is a creationist doing taking a biology course in the first place?
96 posted on 01/30/2003 8:58:38 AM PST by ContentiousObjector
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I have been in situations where a student or former student wants to compel me to write letters of recommendation with which I do not agree.

This is a bad idea, even if this professor is being unfair.

You should not seek honors from people whose honor you do not genuinely desire.

105 posted on 01/30/2003 9:29:35 AM PST by Jim Noble
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
The funny thing is, the theory of evolution doesn't even need creationism as its bogeyman. It falls flat on its face all by its unscientific self.
126 posted on 01/30/2003 10:02:57 AM PST by arm958
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I wonder what would happen if the good professor refused to give a recommendation to a Muslim.
131 posted on 01/30/2003 10:10:54 AM PST by Alouette
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
"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.'"

On a separate topic - have we lost our minds? Why is the federal government involved in such matters?

167 posted on 01/30/2003 10:57:23 AM PST by Voice in your head (Demagogue Party platform: Your money is my human right.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
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!
199 posted on 01/30/2003 4:18:26 PM PST by k2blader
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
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?

200 posted on 01/30/2003 6:07:28 PM PST by gore3000 (Evolution is whaatever lie you want it to be!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Writing letters of recommendation is an entirely voluntary affair; no professor is required to do so, and he cannot legally be forced to do so. You have to convince him to do so. Accusing him of "religious discrimination" is unlikely to convince him, either.

And what the h_ll do federal officials have to do with this? This is federal tyranny of the worst order if they interfere in an entirely private matter.

I have to say, if I were a biology professor, I would have to think twice about recommending anyone who believed in creationism. Obviously that person was not paying much attention in class. Should a flat-earther get a letter of recommendation from a geology professor? Should a believer in a geocentric universe get a letter of recommendation from an astrology professor?

Maybe yes, maybe no, but that is entirely a matter for the professor to decide. It is not an issue that the federal government has any business in.

283 posted on 01/31/2003 4:34:27 PM PST by Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I am basically a fundamentalist Christian and believe in the Bible. I am also a biologist by education. I would not issue a letter of recomendation for an advanced Biology degree to somebody who refuses to accept evolution, or I would issue only one so very general (Mr. so and so is a diligent and studious individual of great intelligence and I would recommend him for higher scholarship, etc.). Not unless I was convinced the studnet could separate his own personal beliefs from accepted biological dogma on this subject.


This is NOT a Federal case and has absolutely NOTHING to do with freedom of religion. This professor would find himself regarded by his peers with as much respect as somebody who recognizes "spontaneous generation" were he to issue such letters and his career would effectively be ended.


Why do these people continue to attempt to make themselves and the mass of other Christians look like idiots? Like I and so many others have so eloquently stated before, the Bible and Evolution are not basically in conflict. The conflict comes in when atheistic professors deduce that since Evolution is a fact, the development of higher organisms is a mere fortuitous event and therefore, God has nothing to do with fortuitous events. In THAT respect, THEY are overstepping theor bounds and intruding into causality adn Theology. When Fundmentqlist Christians state categorically that the Bible refutes Evolution, they are undermining its credibility in a frivilous manner. Evolution is not even addressed in the Bible and is not a moral issue. Today with the serious issues of baby-killing, moral degeneracy and the secularization of mainstream Christian religious faiths over issues like the existence of Satan and Angels, or even the reality of Christ's resurrection, I woould think these people would relaize we had bigger fish to fry and they should stop making us look like Christian version of the Mullahs.
298 posted on 02/01/2003 7:48:24 AM PST by ZULU
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To: governsleastgovernsbest; All
I cannot believe that I'm actually seeing people on this thread defending the incredibly obvious bias of this so-called professor. You who defend his despicable and wholly unprofessional behavior are probably many of the same who decry rampant political correctness.

If this isn't the textbook example of "political correctness" in academia as well as bias against Christian belivers, then I don't know what is.

You who defend this putz should be ashamed of yourselves.

314 posted on 02/01/2003 7:15:26 PM PST by RightOnline
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