E-mail spurs debate over KU course

[kweerwolf]

The University of Kansas says a new course on creationism is under review after an e-mail raised questions about the motives of the professor who designed it.

Earlier this week, university officials defended the course, titled “Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and Other Religious Mythologies.”

KU Provost David Shulenburger said that the university had an obligation to present timely topics and that the term “mythology” was common in the academic study of religion and not meant to offend.

But critics of the course say an e-mail posted on an Internet list-serv, written by Paul Mirecki, religious studies chairman, contradicts that.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/13259284.htm

[MuseRider]

1. Grrrrr.

This is so damned stupid.

Perhaps they should offer the course here at good old Washburn University. Our dean stood up to the people who wanted to get rid of the "penis head" priest scuplture and he held firm with that one. Lets hope KU holds firm.

[ComerPerro]

2. KU has a pretty well respected geology and natural science program

anyone who tried to teach a class that taught ID or Creationism as though they were actually science would be laughed off the hill.

[atommom]

3. DAMN it. They cancelled the class.

:mad:

[atommom]

4. There's an interesting article about this today...

Red State Rabble doesn't expect the uproar over the e-mail comments made by KU religious studies professor Paul Mirecki to subside anytime soon. Right-wing fundamentalists fully intend to use the controversy as a hammer to pound the real target of their rage -- public education -- as long and as hard as they can.

The e-mail controversy is a twofer for the right. They not only get to wield the blunt instrument of their rage against enemies both real and perceived, they get to wallow in self-pity as well. They may control the legislature, they may control the state school board, but, they are victims. It is so sad.

Today, on the Discovery Institute's Evolution News and Views blog, there is a fascinating juxtaposition of posts. In one post, Robert Crowther writes that the problem isn't just Mirecki's "comments on intelligent design that have got him in hot water, but his callous and nasty comments over the years."

Crowther goes on to describe Mirecki as a, "malicious atheist who is bigoted against people of faith... "

http://redstaterabble.blogspot.com/2005/12/double-standard.html

[ochazuke]

5. Isn't this the same prof who got beat up yesterday?

I think I heard on the news that the author of that email was beaten up by some redneck.

NOW who's the victim?

[atommom]

6. It was the same prof. The conservative columnist who is believed

to have leaked these emails is expressing doubt that the beating even occurred, so I'm sure the fundies will call it a hoax. I'm getting more and more disgusted with these people every day.

[ochazuke]

7. Who was the conservative columnist?

And is he into Holocaust Denial, too? ;-)

[atommom]

8. He's John Altevogt, and I wouldn't be surprised!

He's an ultra-conservative columnist and activist. Here's a bit more (put on your hip boots!):
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47664
http://www.the-eleven.com/~tjlegg/index.php?/archives/1732-Teaching-Intelligent-Design.html