Kansas Prof. Apologizes for E-Mail [referred to religious conservatives as "fundies" ....]

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

Kansas Prof. Apologizes for E-Mail

11 minutes ago

A University of Kansas religion professor apologized for an e-mail that referred to religious conservatives as "fundies" and said a course describing intelligent design as mythology would be a "nice slap in their big fat face."

In a written apology Monday, Paul Mirecki, chairman of the university's Religious Studies Department, said he would teach the planned class "as a serious academic subject and in an manner that respects all points of view."

The department faculty approved the course Monday but changed its title. The course, originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationisms and other Religious Mythologies," will instead be called "Intelligent Design and Creationism."

The class was added to next spring's curriculum after the Kansas State Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in its standards for science teaching. The vote was seen as a big win for proponents of intelligent design, who argue that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power.

Critics say intelligent design is merely creationism — a literal reading of the Bible's story of creation — camouflaged in scientific language.

Mirecki's e-mail was sent Nov. 19 to members of the Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics, a student organization for which he serves as faculty adviser.

"The fundies (fundamentalists) want it all taught in a science class, but this will be a nice slap in their big fat face by teaching it as a religious studies class under the category mythology."

Mirecki addressed the message to "my fellow damned" and signed off with: "Doing my part to (tick) off the religious right, Evil Dr. P."

[longshadow]

Festival of the Salvage Trolls placemarker

[ml1954]

You're right. I will execute a mental course correction.

[ml1954]

You're right. I will execute a mental course correction.

[js1138]

I have to say this is the most disgusting thread I've been on since the anti-ageing quack was peddling hormone therapy.

I don't worship the title M.D. I've got three of them in my family, my mother's father, my father and my brother. I don't worship any of them, and I personally would rather crawl on broken glass than go to a doctor.

But I hate medical quackery more than anything else in the world. It is worse than child abuse, worse that islamofacism; it is the single worst thing I can conceive of.

[MississippiMan]

We should pray for this poor man. If he is as bitter regarding God as it sounds, he'll step through death's door into a mammoth, incredibly dismal, and never-ending surprise.

MM

[Chaguito]

Hence, impartiality is impossible. As in everything.

[PatrickHenry]

It's a bit disturbing to watch the first time you see a bunny recycling its own output.

Cute widdle bunny wabbits. If only the creationists would do likewise.

[Chaguito]

Aw heck, I agree with you, I think. I'm just a Christian guy who thinks that the spiritual/religious impulse in humanity has thousands of years of attestation, and I hate to see that fact obscured by a presupposition that it is either false, misguided, or ludicrous.

[Chaguito]

And this prof has tipped his hand with his previous email. I don't think Christianity is likely to be represented as much more than a straw man.

[Dimensio]

Just in case you are unaware of it, your symbol doesn't meet RWP's conditions.

It does if you're totally ignorant of Islam and one of those morons who thinks that evolution leads directly to Nazisim.

[js1138]

Diet cures everything. So let them chew their cud and live forever.

[Dimensio]

And it's a little rude. :-)

I have often wondered how many people showcasing the Ichthus fish are aware of the original anatomical reference.

[Heartlander]

“Andrew Stangl, president of the Society of Open- minded Atheists and Agnostics, said the list-serve was designed to provide an open and informal forum for discussion. The list-serve is open to the public, but users must register with a username and a password”

[furball4paws]

I have been giving RWP challenge some thought. The swastika thing is just too crude and not in line with the Darwin fish. The problem is that Islam has no real symbols. IIRC they are forbidden, but there are some things that might be used. I am terrible at art so maybe some of you can push one along.

1. Seven veils with alluring dark eyes above each. In a circle. In the center, a bomb. Words "There are 65 more where we came from. We get the 72 virgins and the dance of the seven veils together and a bomb.

2. A crescent moon and star are typical (see Green Crescent Society - version of Red Cross). Add a couple of handles and you have a hammer and sickle.

3. Years ago, there used to be a trucking company with a running camel on its side (maybe others remember this, too). It's motto was "Humpin' for you". I always thought this had possibilities.

4. A flying camel with wild Abdul on its back flying toward a skyscraper. Message "Delivering a message of peace from Allah".

5. A picture of Osama. Pointing to you and in the other hand, AK47, grenade launcher, belt of explosives. "Uncle Osama wants you"

Surely one of you creative geniuses can make something of one of these.

[Hacksaw]

Creationist lie #646: people who accept the theory of evolution are fascists.

Ooops, that's not what he said. Looks like you're lying.

[Hacksaw]

I figured this guy was an idiot when I first heard about his plans for such a course. His e-mail has confirmed his status as a kook.

Yeah, and it confirms my own opinion of the people here on FR who were giving him high fives for putting together this course.

[furball4paws]

They're always recycling their own, ahem... .., er... waste.

[Coyoteman]

Yeah, and it confirms my own opinion of the people here on FR who were giving him high fives for putting together this course.

And at a major public university you would teach ID, how?

[ml1954]

Was his listserv posting intended only for a group of people selected by him, or did he intend it to be viewed publicly by anyone, like this post?

[PatrickHenry]

I had meant to say that environmentalists should follow the widdle wabbits example. Recycling and all that. But my brain wasn't properly in gear when I posted.