Kansas Anti-Creationism Professor Resigns

An anonymous reader writes "A Professor of religion at University of Kansas has resigned from his position at the university because of his anti-creationism views." From the article: "Mirecki had planned to teach a course in the spring that examined creationism and intelligent design after the State Board of Education adopted science standards treating evolution as a flawed theory. Originally called 'Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies,' the course was canceled last week at Mirecki's request." The article goes on to explain that Mirecki evidently sent poorly worded email with anti-Christian sentiments around to people interested in the class, and was subsequently beaten for his troubles.

Comments

apparently

[circletimessquare]

intelligent design proponents have some doubts about his beating claims

so they are going to engage in a fully scientifically rigorous investigation of the claims and their evidence

because anything that sullies the reputation of intelligent design, you know, has to be proven or disproven in the most impartial and logically consistent manner

because we wouldn't want passion informing matters of fact, right?

Re:Beaten?

[Anonymous Coward]

Not everything that happens is God's will.

Everything is IN God's plan, but not every act is what God wants.

Re:...Chair of Religious Studies Dept.?

[sketerpot]

He referred to fundamentalists as "fundies". They are synonymous, but "fundies" carries derogatory connotations. Which, considering their ridiculous beliefs and adverse effects on society, is warranted.

Re:Boy, I sure am surprised!

[Empiric]

On the other hand, atheism kills absolutely everybody...

Re:The darn fool.

[Empiric]

And maybe as a corollary to that, we recognize that much of this battle is a false dichotomy, that is...

1. Evolution explains everything
2. Evolution explains nothing

When in fact, there is actually the option...

3. Evolution explains many things

Which is, for those who care about any definitional clarity rather than just making up what they feel like arguing against, actually the position of ID according to Behe (see Dover transcript), who is probably the single central "spokesman" for the hypothesis.

But let's let a little thing like a logical fallacy get in the way... let the ranting proceed! :)

Mirecki Beating

[joel_archer]

This same prof claims he was beaten up by religious fanatics. Local stories are here, here, and the follow up is here. Local reaction of the community follows the story in the "Reader Reaction".

For those who do not know KU and Lawrence, Kansas, it might help in reading the stories to know that: 1) there are a ton of places to eat, but nothing in the area he claims he was going to get breakfast, 2) KU is widely derided as "Gay U", 3) there is a notorious local "cruising" area for males in the area he claims he was beaten, and 4) coming out of the closet in Lawrence, Kansas means admitting publicly your a christian. The town and University are seems split on whether the beating was faked.

Oz

[external400kdiskette]

toto: woof woof bark bark
dorothy: what's happening !?
fundamentalist: we're teaching the sinful epicurean a divine lesson
dorothy: toto, i think we're still in kansas dorothy: oh the horror, i cant handle this horrendous sight, where's my barbituates to dull the pain :((

Re:Oz

[skeptictank]

That's right bitch, your still in Kansas and I'm gonna make your squeal like a pig!

SOOOO-WEEHHHHH!

Re:Kansas...

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

I pledge allegiance to no fags and

The United State of Kansas which passed the ban

one discrimination under design

with intelligence but no egalitarianism for all.

Re:Observations from an actual KU student

[DesScorp]

First, Paul Mirecki is a well-respected scholar in the field of Christianity.

WAS well respected...

The released text was taken out of any context (the vast majority of the message had nothing to do with the class in question

So what?
It still revealed his hostile views to "fundies", and now we have discovered, Catholics. Looks like the only ones missing were them thar' Jews, but he probably just didn't have time to get around to them yet...

Third, the Kansas legislature has a history of trying to destroy the University of Kansas.

DESTROY Kansas U? What??? What are you, a Drama major?

he conservative majority in our state legislature is uneducated, inept, and scary - only our governer is keeping things from getting too out of control.

And that's because, hmmm, your Gov is a Democrat? Nice...

Here's the truth; Mirecki had nothing but contempt for middle America people of faith. He spouted off his true views of American Christians, thinking it would go unseen. And he GOT CAUGHT. He believed the worst stereotypes about them, and the people of Kansas went "I'm sending my kids to college for this?"