A letter of alarm from Eugenie C. Scott, Executive Director for the National Center for Science Education:
]]>Believe it or not, the teaching of evolution is under attack.
Here we are, eight-six years after the Scopes Trial, in which a Tennessee teacher was convicted for teaching evolution, contrary to state law…
Read More (links to the full letter below):
Image from Spectrum article
According to a recent Spectrum article, the court case involving three La Sierra University employees who have filed suit for wrongful termination (Dr. James Beach, Dr. Gary Bradley, and Dr. Jeffry Kaatz) will proceed to trial.
]]>In the final analysis, Judge Taylor sided with the defendants’ claim that the plaintiffs did not sufficiently demonstrate the recording to be illegal (but allowed the plaintiffs to amend and replead the complaint), and sided against the defendants on the First Amendment-based demurrers. The judge sided with the defendant Ricardo Graham that he could not be held personally liable for the plaintiffs’ dismissal, but sided against Graham by finding sufficient facts to allege emotional distress. The judge denied all motions to strike, meaning that the case will proceed.
For those who may be interested, Dr. Sean Pitman recently gave a provocative presentation at Loma Linda University (linked below) as part of Dr. Paul Giem’s Second Look Seminars – a series of presentations on origins.  Dr. Pitman’s topic was:
Intelligent Design:Â Science or Religion?
The talk was based on a review of Judge John Jone’s ruling in the 2005 Kitzmiller vs. Dover case over the effort to teach intelligent design theories in public schools as competing scientific theories to mainstream theories on origins – especially the origin of life on Earth.Â
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On July 19, 2011 La Sierra University issued a press release regarding an “action letter” from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in which WASC noted several points of concern over LSU’s handling of the recent resignation of four members of LSU’s board ( Link ). WASC was especially concerned over the “divisions on the board concerning the controversy over the teaching of science” and the actions of the board chair (Elder Ricardo Graham) that were largely independent of the board. WASC suggested that Graham “acted in his capacity as a church leader” rather than as part of an independent board – undermining “institutional autonomy.” Therefore, WASC issued a “Formal Notice of Concern” to LSU with a scheduled visit to LSU in the Spring of 2012 to evaluate the steps taken by LSU to address the concerns raised by WASC.
The following is an excerpt from the WASC letter:
Based on the bylaws and the statements of the board chair himself, it appears that he did not have independent authority as La Sierra’s board chair to take these actions and was not acting at the instruction of the board. The board chair reported that he consulted only with a few of the Church-designated trustees, members of national Church leadership, and university counsel before asking for the resignations of the four individuals involved. The Commission could infer from these facts that the board chair acted in his capacity as a Church leader, which would be a clear violation of WASC standards on institutional autonomy.
Here is La Sierra’s response to the WASC letter:
Though the University’s eight-year regional accreditation is not affected, WASC has identified concerns regarding the role and composition of the La Sierra University Board of Trustees and issues related to institutional autonomy. Those findings have led WASC to issue a Notice of Concern.
The WASC Commission has requested a meeting between WASC leadership and the university president, provost, and full governing board within the coming 90 days to offer further information as to the reasons for their actions and to discuss the University’s response plan. WASC has also indicated that they will return for a follow-up visit to La Sierra in Spring 2012 to determine whether appropriate progress is being made in addressing their concerns.
The La Sierra Board of Trustees, which met on July 18 to review the letter, stated that it “takes WASC’s findings seriously,” has reconvened the Articles and Bylaws Committee “in response to concerns noted by WASC”, and plans to meet again in August.
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For those who may be interested, Dr. Sean Pitman has been asked to give a presentation on July 23 (Sabbath), at Loma Linda University campus, Mortensen Hall (upstairs amphitheater) starting at 10:30 am. Directions can be found by clicking on the following Link: Map
This is part of Dr. Paul Giem’s Second Look Seminars Sabbath school class.
His topic will be:Â Intelligent Design:Â Science or Religion?
Update (7/25/11): The video of his lecture is linked below:
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Educate Truth shares the following video from Faith and Science Sabbath School as a service to readers.
Paul Giem discusses the La Sierra resignations, reviewing LSU’s news release and Gary Bradley’s email. Afterward he recounts the story behind the accidental recording of Jeff Kaatz, Gary Bradley, Jim Beach, and Lenny Darnell. Geim’s presentation on LSU begins at 00:47:20, followed by further discussion of the situation with the audience at 01:03:00.
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Educate Truth shares the following article from the Adventist Review as a service to readers:
BY MARK A. FINLEY
One of the great theological problems with theistic evolution is that it limits God’s power. It exalts natural law above the Creator of natural law. Theistic evolution doesn’t allow for an all-powerful God to miraculously shape our world. It reduces God to the scale of human imagination, and exalts reason above revelation. This was precisely why humanity fell in the beginning. Eve listened to the voice of the serpent in the garden and trusted what her eyes could see rather than what God said. Her mind became the final arbiter of truth.
Educate Truth shares the following excerpts from The Press Enterprise as a service to readers. Opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Educate Truth.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
By David Olson
A Seventh-day Adventist Church board says the college hasn’t gone far enough to address creationists’ concerns, while a secular commission is worried that the outside lobbying could impinge on academic freedom.
The belief that God created the world in six days is one of the Adventist church’s fundamental beliefs, and the worldwide church’s president in 2009 urged all Adventist university professors to advocate that belief.
University leaders last month publicly apologized for not adequately emphasizing church teaching in biology classes and promised to do more…
“The real crux of the matter is whether the Bible has a privileged position as a source of knowledge,” said Lisa Beardsley, director of education for the worldwide Adventist church.
The inadequate teaching of Biblical creation “is a symptom of a problem,” an indication that La Sierra hasn’t done enough to ensure students are thoroughly exposed to the Adventist worldview, she said. (Read more)
Related articles:
1. Creating Controversy by Jack Stripling
2. More than 5,600 people sign petition in favor of creationism by David Olson
3. La Sierra University debate over creationism continues by David Olson
By Sean Pitman
Ever wonder why creationists do not often publish in mainstream scientific journals or get top-level jobs within the scientific community? Consider who is in control of these journals and these jobs and their religious zeal to uphold their own perspective and agenda under the protection of civil law… even when it comes to those who actually believe in evolution but might question or put doubts in people’s minds as to the validity of some aspect of the mainstream perspective on origins.
In this light consider also the challenge to the SDA Church from those within who openly attack the Church’s position on origins on the Church’s dime. Fewer and fewer options are available these days for those who question Darwinism or wish their children to be exposed to these questions, or even for those who want to expose their children to those who are truly supportive of the Church’s position on origins within our own schools:
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An astronomer argues that his Christian faith and his peers’ belief that he is an evolution skeptic kept him from getting a prestigious job as the director of a new student observatory at the University of Kentucky.
Martin Gaskell quickly rose to the top of a list of applicants being considered by the university’s search committee. One member said he was “breathtakingly above the other applicants.”
Others openly worried his Christian faith could conflict with his duties as a scientist, calling him “something close to a creationist” and “potentially evangelical.”
Even though Gaskell says he is not a creationist, he claims he was passed over for the job at UK’s MacAdam Student Observatory three years ago because of his religion and statements that were perceived to be critical of the theory of evolution.
Gaskell has sued the university, claiming lost income and emotional distress. Last month a judge rejected a motion from the university and allowed it to go to trial Feb. 8.
“There is no dispute that based on his application, Gaskell was a leading candidate for the position,” U.S. District Judge Karl S. Forester wrote in the ruling. (Read More)