Slashdot Mirror


Lawsuit Claims NASA Specialist Was Fired Over Intelligent Design Belief

New submitter period3 writes "The latest mission of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is defending itself in a workplace lawsuit filed by a former computer specialist. The man claims he was demoted and then let go for promoting his views on intelligent design, the belief that a higher power must have had a hand in creation because life is too complex to have developed through evolution alone."

3 of 743 comments (clear)

  1. Can't say I have a problem with this by slimjim8094 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So I'm a jackass. I'd say that anybody that believes in creationism or ID should be shot (assuming they've been given the opportunity to understand, you know, facts, and just didn't take it).

    Toning that back a bit, I'd say he should be fired for believing it. If you want to be a secretary and believe in ID, you're still an idiot but it isn't direct evidence that you're incompetent, like it is for a scientist or engineer.

    Now I know that the guy was a "computer specialist", so he could've perhaps gotten by. Some random techie fiddling with the computers doesn't need to "believe" in science (not that science requires belief).

    But note the operative word that the summary tossed in - "promoting". That's what changes this from a "they fired an idiot, but his idiocy didn't affect his job necessarily" to "he's getting in the way of everybody's work". Anyone he was able to convince, they wouldn't want anyway - but you can be damned sure he was trying hard to convince people at NASA that science wasn't really that great.

    It's like Microsoft firing a guy who goes around bothering the Windows folks and telling them they ought to use Macs. Regardless of your feelings on the matter, it's impossible to see that as anything other than irritating at best, and obstructive at worst.

    --
    I have developed a truly marvelous proof of this comment, which this signature is too narrow to contain.
  2. Re:Man whose job relies on the scientific method.. by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So let me get this straight...

    An entity receiving government funds decided that someone who didn't share their core beliefs shouldn't work there anymore?

    How is this different than Catholic Hospitals receiving government money and then deciding based on their beliefs how to run their business?

    Personally neither should be done but this guy was pushing his beliefs onto his co-workers including giving people DVDs. And the project was significantly downsizing due to it being 'finished' etc. If you're the squeaky wheel, you'll get the grease[d exit] first...

    --
    People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
  3. Re:Man whose job relies on the scientific method.. by MightyMartian · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    You do understand that none of your attempts to show Genesis as an allegorical explanation of Big Bang cosmology actually makes sense, right?

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.