Comment on LSU Board says ‘we apologize’ by Angelina.
Sorry. Not sure how to post with a quote.
Adventist High School Student
You said, “Those are unsubstantiated accusations. What we had was a largely orchestrated campaign of character assassination against professors at La Sierra by the extreme right-wing element in the church, the equivalent of the Tea Party in modern day politics.Like I said, falling to these ridiculous attacks will do little to help La Sierra. I know quite a few of my friends and I plan to attend non-Adventist colleges as a result of these concerns.”
My reply:
Unsubstantiated? What about Louie Bishop? What about Janelle and Jason Shives? To name just three. Do you really think people would be willing to put themselves out there, to suffer criticism and risk being misunderstood, ridiculed and ostracized if it weren’t true? Would you?
By all means, decide which college is best for you. But, make that decision having fairly considered all the facts. You may not favour the “right-wing element of the church” for a whole host of reasons, but those reasons should not impede your objectivity to the point where you callously choose to disregard real personal testimony.
Sincerely,
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?”
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,
And exactly how are these people then held accountable? For so many years/decades, our youth has been misled even humiliated, concerned parents have been lied to, and the Lord’s money, wasted. Charitable? That’s exactly what the church(on every level) has been until now, and I believe our church leaders will answer one day for being asleep at the helm.
Teaching in our schools is not just another job. It is an awesome responsibility, the effects of which will have repercussions for generations of people and either help steer them to Christ or away from Him. When one accepts this responsibility, wouldn’t you agree that this is far different than a single person’s choice to drink alcohol and the effect it has, on one or a small number of lives? Personally, I believe that the church should stay consistent with expectations for its employees on all levels, even “general positions on faith and behaviour”, but if it does not, then can what LaSierra’s professors have done really fall in this same category, or do we need to asses first and foremost what the fallout has been, and what the potential risk is if they were to continue to teach?
One more point: If we have any hope of winning back any of the precious souls lost because of this, then the message has to be clear and unequivocal — What happend was not right. What you were taught was not right. These professors have no place teaching at our schools — The charity we extend has to do with continued patience and love for them as church members, not as employees. Just like you would not award custody of an abused child to his abusive, albeit remorseful parents, neither should we leave these professors to continue teaching our youth. How could we trust them again, or ever?
I look forward to reading your suggestions.
Angelina
@Angelina: …As he has done so generously at Southern Adventist University with, what is it, four Biology positions open?
Perhaps this 4-year wait speaks to how far SDA scientists have strayed from Truth, scientific or not. I don’t know, but I choose not to question God’s ways. Not always easy, but liberating for sure.
