Comment on LSU Board says ‘we apologize’ by Angelina.
Professor Kent,
Thank you for your reply, but I’m not sure you answered my question, at least I hope you haven’t: How exactly are these professors (administrators etc) held accountable? From your relatively non-commital comments above, it seems you would leave it up to these professors (and I include administrators and any others in position of authority who should have taken action but didn’t) to decide whether, under new, more explicit job descriptions they choose to stay or leave. Really? Is this what you would do? Are you implying that the church does not have cause to terminate their employment? Are you saying that after a decade or more of their lies and deception, this is all we can do, revise the job description? Are you telling me that it is not a condition of employment to uphold the church’s fundamental beliefs, whether implicit or explicit? Please tell me this isn’t your solution.
Many years ago, I worked for a Catholic charity organization. At worship one morning the President who was also a Priest, made a jaw-dropping statement. He said, “There is no such thing as good and evil. God and Satan don’t really exist.†What do you think happened? He was quietly relieved of his duties and sent to work in a mission field with natives struggling with addictions such as glue sniffing, alcoholism and pornography, to see first hand the effects of evil. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church’s track record is abysmal when it comes to taking action for wayward priests, but in this instance their reaction was swift and unequivocal. Do you think it was stipulated somewhere in this Priest’s contract that he has to believe in good and evil?
Since we are also short on pastors, maybe we should hire a few from the Presbyterians, or from Jehovah’s Witnesses….Doesn’t matter, does it?
Keeping these professors because there may not be others would be a testament to our lack of faith. God will provide in His time. The primary concern, as I see it, is not who will replace these professors, but rather, how to restore trust and credibility so that our youth and their parents, past, present and future can feel certain once again that we are all on the same page.
I fully agree with your final point. However, firing these employees would not be punitive in my perspective. They repeatedly made choices, and perhaps still stand by those choices, that went counter to what our institution is about. They lied when questioned, conveniently “laid low until it blew overâ€, openly ridiculed students for their bible-based beliefs and on and on. By making these choices, they also chose the consequences that they should have faced ions ago. Did Jesus stand by and give the moneychangers the choice to stay if they changed their behaviour? No. He loved them none the less, and undoubtedly prayed for them, as we should too for these employees, but our Christian duty, to protect and promote Truth, demands we do more.
Thank you
Angelina
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Angelina Also Commented
LSU Board says ‘we apologize’
@Professor Kent:
Unfortunately, I am not at all in a position to comment on SAU’s search for biology professors. I can only imagine how hard the task would be for them, and as you have described how frustrating, on the flipside, it would be to be interviewed for such a position. I’m afraid I don’t have answers, even any suggestions (strange because I always have something to say), only that I would leave it in the Lord’s hands. He is my go-to person.
You said:
“Who would want to teach at an institution with constituents who assume a priori you’re an evolutionist, dissect endlessly any statement that could be twisted to mean something sinister, expose to public ridicule on the internet anyone who fails to state “the weight of evidence favors the traditional SDA position†(Sean Pitman’s favored tactic), and send blanket hate mail to every biologist on the staff?â€
In all fairness to Sean/Shane, you know that going viral was preceded by their repeated attempts to draw attention to the issue in other ‘quieter’ ways: in person and through letters. Didn’t work, did it? I’ve been on that end with my own battle, and believe me it’s no picnic. Being ignored, or politely listened to THEN ignored when there is a pressing issue at hand, certainly one which involves our youth, or in my instance young children, you don’t have time to sit back and wait hoping something will happen. You act. And, as a parent I am grateful to people like Sean/Shane for their willingness to take a public stand. You may not like their ‘tactics’ and mine were also criticized, but if standing for what is right means ruffling a few feathers resistant to change, then so be it.
Sincerely,
Angelina
LSU Board says ‘we apologize’
@Professor Kent:
No worries. No offence taken.
LSU Board says ‘we apologize’
@Professor Kent:
You said:
“For having those views, and for sharing their doubts, I don’t believe they should be faulted any more so than faculty who share their honoest views on dancing, caffeine or alcohol consumption, abortion, homosexuality, sex on the Sabbath, or other Adventist “hot potatoes.â€
My reply:
The faculty did far more than ‘have a view, and share a doubtâ€. They TAUGHT their views on evolution as the only logical explanation of our origins. It is one thing to HAVE a view, quite another to TEACH it to the exclusion of and in opposition to the one and only Bible-based belief of origins on which the SDA church was founded.
You said:
“What the faculty should unquestionably be faulted for is insensitivity and failure to be more accomodating toward those who had divergent views.â€
My reply:
Divergent views? So now, a view of Creationism as an explanation of origins in an SDA school is considered ‘divergent’? Did I understand that correctly?
The mere fact that this whole, sad and pathetic saga has gone on for this long is proof enough that incompetence has reigned supreme. Just because La Sierra’s administrators have now sprung into action does not undo decades of misuse of power, and leaving them in office going forward will only serve to fester the current situation of mistrust.
That said, I was honestly blown away to read they were issuing an apology. Not quite sure yet what the apology is for, but I am hopeful it is a step in the right direction. The next step should be a call for letters of resignation/termination. Yes, back to that, I’m afraid.
Sincerely,
Angelina
Recent Comments by Angelina
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For all of you who think this site and the information posted is not VITAL, you must not be parents. My son, a biology major, is a freshman at another SDA university and I have 2 more teens to follow in the next couple of years. I thank the Lord every day for this site and the people who are willing to put themselves out there for their sake. They are accomplishing their stated purpose which is to inform parents (and other church members) so that we can decide what to do about it and where to send our children. In my opinion, Ness has crossed the line. Playing devil’s advocate to teach a lesson is fine and dandy, but the lesson is LOST if the other side is not given equal billing.
Professor Kent:
I am particulary disturbed by most of your posts. The hostility and sarcasm you express are absolutely unnecessary. Do you not understand that WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON?!!! You can debate evolution/creation, short age/long age earth, local/global flood ad nauseum. This does not change my mind in the least.
Faith without Evidence: Are we really a bunch of ‘Flat Earthers’?
Sean,
I have been following this thread of posts and most of the others since the beginning of this website. I have experienced a whole range of emotions from anger to sadness to disdain and thankfully even hope, and have learned much in the process about God’s people and often wondered how it is that He continues to love us so. As someone who has stood for truth no matter the cost, I sincerely thank you for all you are willing to endure. May the Lord continue to give you strength, wisdom, understanding and PATIENCE [edit]. You have certainly been called to serve in such a time as this.
