Biology professor draws fire for not recommending creationist students - Page 4

Darwin · 29th April 2003, 01:18 PM

"What do people think about if it had to do with, say, theories of gravity, rather than evolution? Do you think the same hoop-la would have been made about it?"

Depends on whether you mean that the one in charge of whoopla rejects the theory of gravity or simply rejects it due to a belief that goes beyond scientific method.

Theory of gravity would hardly be rejected out of a religious belief,of course this is obvious.

Phaycops · 30th April 2003, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishbob
Sherlock Holmes asks: If I recall correctly, the student had not taken Prof Dini's class. Hmm, I wonder what Blue Monk would say about this?

Not only had the student not taken the class, the student didn't ask for a recommendation and in fact transferred to a different university entirely before suing the professor. I really don't understand why this is even an issue at all. Isn't there some kind of "frivolous lawsuits" guideline or something? Oh, wait, I forgot. This is America!

jj · 30th April 2003, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phaycops

Not only had the student not taken the class, the student didn't ask for a recommendation and in fact transferred to a different university entirely before suing the professor. I really don't understand why this is even an issue at all. Isn't there some kind of "frivolous lawsuits" guideline or something? Oh, wait, I forgot. This is America!

That is also my understanding from news reports.

This is why I refer to it as religious harrassment of an innocent professor.

pgwenthold · 30th April 2003, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phaycops

Not only had the student not taken the class, the student didn't ask for a recommendation and in fact transferred to a different university entirely before suing the professor. I really don't understand why this is even an issue at all. Isn't there some kind of "frivolous lawsuits" guideline or something? Oh, wait, I forgot. This is America!

The beauty is how this so goes to demonstrate the point.

The guy is basically saying that he is so certain in his creationist belief that no science class will change his mind.

Yeah, that's what we all want from our doctor, someone who's mind is made up and admits that he will never change it no matter what he encounters.

I don't want him diagnosing me.

I mean, at least take the class and then claim you aren't convinced. But to basically say that there is nothing that could change your mind? Bah.

1st May 2003, 12:59 AM

I'm a relatively late-comer to this discussion, but as I've followed along I noticed that most of the discussion tended to be about the merits and appropriateness of Dini's position. I'd like to point out something else that many have overlooked, that is, the man behind all this controversy.

If anyone has looked at the rest of his webpage at the Texas Tech website, one can see that he has been on the other side of the fence. The man had a 14 year history with Catholism in his younger days.

I think there might have been some tendency to see him as some nose-in-the-air elitist with no respect for religion at all, but it seems to me he has the experience of having grappled with tough ideas like many of us here.

What makes him a REAL hero to me, though, is his philosophy on education. By his own account, he was a high school teacher before he started teaching at the university level. Many of his observations are right on the mark. Any responsible skeptic would hail his remarks as calls of attention to the real root of the problems in today's society of ignorance.

29th April 2003, 01:18 PM	#121
Darwin Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 288	"What do people think about if it had to do with, say, theories of gravity, rather than evolution? Do you think the same hoop-la would have been made about it?" Depends on whether you mean that the one in charge of whoopla rejects the theory of gravity or simply rejects it due to a belief that goes beyond scientific method. Theory of gravity would hardly be rejected out of a religious belief,of course this is obvious.
Darwin Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 288

30th April 2003, 02:47 PM	#123
jj grumpy old skeptic Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Deep in the rain Posts: 18,520	Quote: Originally posted by Phaycops Not only had the student not taken the class, the student didn't ask for a recommendation and in fact transferred to a different university entirely before suing the professor. I really don't understand why this is even an issue at all. Isn't there some kind of "frivolous lawsuits" guideline or something? Oh, wait, I forgot. This is America! That is also my understanding from news reports. This is why I refer to it as religious harrassment of an innocent professor.
	__________________ The Power to Quit

30th April 2003, 03:55 PM	#124
pgwenthold Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 12,074	Quote: Originally posted by Phaycops Not only had the student not taken the class, the student didn't ask for a recommendation and in fact transferred to a different university entirely before suing the professor. I really don't understand why this is even an issue at all. Isn't there some kind of "frivolous lawsuits" guideline or something? Oh, wait, I forgot. This is America! The beauty is how this so goes to demonstrate the point. The guy is basically saying that he is so certain in his creationist belief that no science class will change his mind. Yeah, that's what we all want from our doctor, someone who's mind is made up and admits that he will never change it no matter what he encounters. I don't want him diagnosing me. I mean, at least take the class and then claim you aren't convinced. But to basically say that there is nothing that could change your mind? Bah.
	__________________ "Baseball is a philosophy. The primordial ooze that once ruled our world has been captured in perpetual motion. Baseball is the moment. Its ever changing patterns are hypnotizing yet invigorating. Baseball is an art form. Classic and at the same time...progressive. Baseball is pre-historic and post-modern. Baseball is here to stay." (Stolen from the side of a lava lamp box, and modified slightly)

1st May 2003, 12:59 AM	#125
thinkren Guest Posts: n/a	a bit more about the man... I'm a relatively late-comer to this discussion, but as I've followed along I noticed that most of the discussion tended to be about the merits and appropriateness of Dini's position. I'd like to point out something else that many have overlooked, that is, the man behind all this controversy. If anyone has looked at the rest of his webpage at the Texas Tech website, one can see that he has been on the other side of the fence. The man had a 14 year history with Catholism in his younger days. I think there might have been some tendency to see him as some nose-in-the-air elitist with no respect for religion at all, but it seems to me he has the experience of having grappled with tough ideas like many of us here. What makes him a REAL hero to me, though, is his philosophy on education. By his own account, he was a high school teacher before he started teaching at the university level. Many of his observations are right on the mark. Any responsible skeptic would hail his remarks as calls of attention to the real root of the problems in today's society of ignorance.
thinkren Guest Posts: n/a

30th April 2003, 01:16 PM	#122
Phaycops Guest Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 517	Quote: Originally posted by fishbob Sherlock Holmes asks: If I recall correctly, the student had not taken Prof Dini's class. Hmm, I wonder what Blue Monk would say about this? Not only had the student not taken the class, the student didn't ask for a recommendation and in fact transferred to a different university entirely before suing the professor. I really don't understand why this is even an issue at all. Isn't there some kind of "frivolous lawsuits" guideline or something? Oh, wait, I forgot. This is America!